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Mormon  prophet  and  his  harem  :  i 


3    T1S3    DDb27fi7S 


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Ct  1^7    /  //^^^^^  ^^^/^ 


THE   MORMON  PEOPHET 


AND 


HIS    HAEEM;  . 


OR, 


AN  AUTHENTIC  HISTOEY  OF  BRIGHAI  YOUN&, 


NUMEROUS  WIVES  AND  CHILDREN. 


BT 

MRS.   C.  V.  WAITE. 


"And  with  a  piece  of  scripture, 

Tell  them,  —  that  God  bids  us  do  good  for  eyil. 

And  thus  I  clothe  my  naked  vUlainy 
With  old  odd  ends,  stol'n  forth  of  Holy  Writ, 

And  seem  a  saint,  when  most  I  play  the  devil." 


FIFTH   EDITION,    REVISED   AND   ENLARGED. 


CHICAGO: 
J.    S.    GOODMAN    AND    COMPANY, 

CIXCIXNATI: 
C.  F.  VENT  "and  company, 

1867. 


■  ■  ! 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  y«ar  1866,  by 

Catharine  V.  Waite, 

In  tlxe  Clerk's  Office  of  tlie  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Second 

Judicial  District  of  the  Territory  of  Idaho. 


KIVZRSIDE,  Oambridqe: 

STIREOTTPED    AND    PBINTBB    IT 

H.  0.  HOUOaiON  aI^d  COUPANT. 


PREFACE. 


No  apology  is  offered  for  presenting  to  the  public 
the  only  authentic  account  of  Brigham  Young,  of  his 
polygamous  family,  and  of  that  complicated  and  incon- 
gruous system  of  social  and  political  machinery,  called 
Mormonism. 

The  only  form  of  religion  in  this  country  which  re- 
fuses to'  conform  either  to  the  spirit  of  progress  and  im- 
provement and  enlightened  humanity  which  charac- 
terizes the  age  in  which  we  live,  or  to  our  laws  and 
the  genius  of  our  free  institutions,  —  drawing  constant- 
ly from  foreign  countries  hosts  of  votaries,  impelled 
hither  not  by  a  love  of  republicanism,  but  rather  by 
a  desire  to  exchange  a  political  for  a  religious  mon- 
archy, —  is  Mormonism,  which  presents  an  antagonism 
to  our  Government,  and  can  scarcely  fail  to  result  in 
national  trouble. 

The  elements  of  a  second  rebellion  are  in  active  pro- 
gress in  Utah,  and,  as  in  the  case  of  the  slavery  rebel- 
lion, the  great  danger  lies  in  failing  to  place  a  proper 
estimate  upon  the  power  of  those  elements  for  mischief, 
and  to  take  the  proper  precautions  in  time.  Religious 
fanaticism  is  more  active,  and,  when  hostile,  more  dan- 
gerous, than  political  ambition ;  hence  the  arrogant  and 
intolerant  spirit,  and  the  bitter  hostility  of  the  Mor- 
mons, are   more  worthy  the  serious  attention  of  our 


4  PREFACE. 

statesmen  than  would  be  the  opposition  of  so  many 
mere  pohtical  traitors. 

Again ;  their  power  for  mischief  is  much  increased 
by  the  position  they  occupy  upon  tlie  great  tliorough- 
fare  between  the  eastern  and  western  portions  of  our 
country. 

It  is  with  the  view  of  calling  the  attention  of  the 
Government  and  of  the  people  of  the  country  to  the 
dangerous  character  of  this  monarchy  growing  up  in 
the  midst  of  the  Republic,  that  the  political  history  of 
Utah  has  been  written. 

The  chief  interest  of  the  work,  however,  with  a 
large  class  of  readers,  will  doubtless  consist  in  the  in- 
formation it  contains,  relative  to  the  family  and  social 
relations  of  the  celebrated  Mormon  leader.  These, 
and  all  other  facts  contained  in  this  volume,  may  be 
relied  upon  as  true,  and  many  of  them  are  now  pub- 
lished for  the  first  time. 

The  subject  of  polygamy  is  treated  thoroughly,  and 
as  dispassionately  as  the  writer's  utter  abhorrence  of 
the  system  will  permit.  A  residence  of  two  years  in 
the  midst  of  this  state  of  society,  could  not  fail  to  afford 
me  a  tolerably  good  view  of  its  inside  Avorkings,  and 
this  view  I  have  presented  to  my  readers. 

Some  of  the  facts  narrated  in  this  volume  have  been 
fiirnished  by  persons  in  Salt  Lake,  who  are  thoroughly 
conversant  with  them ;  in  some  cases,  by  persons  who 
have  long  been  in  the  service  of  Young,  and  know 
whereof  they  relate.  While  I  am  not  at  liberty  to 
mention  their  names,  I  take  this  opportunity  to  return 
them  my  thanks  for  such  valuable  information. 

This  book  is  believed  to  be  a  desideratum  demanded 
by  the  social  and  political  well-being  of  the  country, 


PREFACE.  5 

and  as  such  it  is  presented  to  the  consideration  of  the 
people  of  this  country,  and  especially  to  my  own  sex, 
who  are  deeply  interested  in  preventing  the  frame- 
work of  our  social  system  from  being  broken  up  and 
superseded  by  the  customs  and  maxims  of  the  worst 
a^es  of  barbarism. 

To  the  suffering  women  of  Utah,  I  especially  dedi- 
cate this  result  of  my  labors  in  their  behalf;  and  I  am 
not  without  hope  that  many  of  them  may,  upon  a  pe- 
rusal of  its  pages,  be  induced  to  retrace  their  steps, 
and  rescue  themselves  from  the  snares  of  the  religious 
impostors  now  seeking  their  destruction. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

EAKLT  HISTORY  OF  BRIGHAM  TOtJIIQ. 

PAQI 

The  Birth  and  Parentage  of  Brigham  Young.  —  His  Brothers  and 
Sisters.  —  He  embraces  Mormonism,  and  becomes  a  Leader.  —  Is 
appointed  President  of  the  Twelve,  and  finally  placed  at  the  Head 
of  the  Church,  to  succeed  Joseph  Smith. — Establishes  the  Mor- 
mons in  Salt-Lake  Valley 1 

CHAPTER  n. 

POLITICAL. 

Brigham  as  Governor  of  Utah  and  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs.  — 
Formation  of  the  State  of  Deseret.  —  Proceedings  of  the  Utah  Legis- 
lature.—  Brigham's  Proclamations.  —  Difficulties  with  the  Federal 
Officers.  —  Proceedings  of  the  First  Judges 11 

CHAPTER  III. 

POLITICAL  HISTORY   CONTmUED. 

Colonel  Steptoe  and  Brigham  Young. — Brigham  reappointed  Gov- 
ernor.—  John  F.  Kinney. —  Western  Utah,  or  Nevada.  —  Letter  of 
Hon.  James  M.  Crane.  —  Judge  Stiles  and  the  Records.  —  W.  W. 
Drammond 26 


CHAPTER  IV. 

POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  —  THE  MORMON  WAR. 

Report  of  the  Secretary  of  War.  —  Proclamation  of  Governor  Brigham 
Young,  declaring  Martial  Law.  —  Correspondence.  —  Sermons  of 
Toung  and  Kimball.  —  Proclamation  of  Governor  Gumming.  — • 


CONTENTS. 


P-tOK 

His  Echo  Canyon  Adventures.  —  Col.  Kane.  —  The  Jlormons  leave 
Salt  Lake.  —  Commissiouers  appointed  by  the  President.  —  Peace 
restored 40 


CHAPTER  V. 

POLITICAL  HISTORY   CONTINUED. 

The  Mountain  Meadow  Massacre,  and  other  Crimes  of  the  Mormons. — 
Attempts  to  bring  the  Perpetrat6rs  to  Justice. — Doings  of  Judge 
Cradlebaugh.  —  Governor  Gumming  and  the  Military  Officers. — 
Judge  Sinclair's  Court.  —  Governor  Dawson  and  his  Misfortunes.  — 
New  Governor  and  Associate  Justices  appointed 60 

CILVPTER  VI. 

POLITICAL  HISTORY   CONTINUED. 

Arrival  of  the  New  Federal  Officers,  in  July,  1862.  —  Colonel  Connor 
arrives  with  his  Command.  — The  IMessflge  of  Governor  Harding. — 
The  Mormons  Indignant.  — The  Legislature  refuse  to  print  the  Mes- 
sage.—  Action  of  the  United  States  Senate  thereon.  —  Forgery  in 
the  Mormon  Legislature.  —  Bill  of  Judge  Waite  to  amend  the  Or- 
ganic Act.  —  Indignation  Meeting.  —  Governor  Harding  and  Judges 
Waite  and  Drake  requested  to  leave  the  Territoiy.  —  Their  Rephes. 
—  Brigham.  —  The  Federal  Officers. 78 

CHAPTER  VII. 

BRIGHAM  AS  PRESIDENT  OF  THE   CHURCH. 

Organization  of  the  Mormon  Church.  —  Fimctions  of  the  various  Offi- 
cers.—  The  Two  Priesthoods.  —  Mode  of  treating  Dissenters  or 
"Apostates." — Divisions  in  the  Church.  —  The  Gladdenites. — 
Historj'  of  the  Morrisites.  —  The  Josephites.  —  Return  to  the  True 
Mormon  Church 114 

CHAPTER  VIIL 

BRIGHAM   AS  TRUSTEE   IN  TRUST  FOR  THE   CHURCH. 

Nature  of  the  Trusteeship.  —  The  Tithing  System.  —  Brigham's  Pri- 
vate Speculations.  —  The  Emigration  Fund.  —  The  Hand-Cart  Com- 
pany    132 

CHAPTER  IX. 

BRIGHAM  AS  PROPHET,  SEER,  AND  REVELATOK. 

Brigham's  Position  as  Head  of  the  Church.  —  Mormon  Theology.  — 


CONTENTS. 


Brigham's  Theology,  or  Utah  Mormonism. — Adam  as  God. — 
Brigham  Young  as  God.  —  Human  Sacrilice.  —  Introduction  of 
Polygamy. —  Polygamy  no  part  of  the  Original  Mormon  Religion. 
—  The  lievelation,  or  Celestial  JNIarriage.  —  The  Ceremony  of  Seal- 
ing. —  Consequences  and  Incidents  of  the  Doctrine.  —  Incest.  — 
Summary  of  the  Mormon  Keligion 153 


CHAPTER  X. 

BRIGHAM  AS   LORD   OF  THE  H^VREM. 

Brigham's  Block.  —  The  Lion  House.  —  The  Tithing-House. —  The 
Bee-Hive  House,  Office,  etc.  —  Description  of  the  Harem, —  Plan, 
Rooms,  etc.,  of  each  Floor,  and  who  occupies  the  same.  —  Life  at 
the  Harem.  —  Brigham  at  Home 177 


CHAPTER  XI. 
THE  "rt:ves  of  brigham  young. 

Mary  Ann  Angell  Young,  the  first  wife.  — Her  Family.  —  Lucy  Decker 
Seely,  the  first  wife  in  Plurality.  —  More  of  "  My  Women  " :  Clara 
Decker,  Harriet  Cook,  Lucy  Bigelow,  Twiss,  Martha  Bowker,  Har- 
riet Barney,  Eliza  Burgess,  Ellen  Rockwood,  Susin  Snively,  Jemi- 
ma Angell,  Margaret  Alley,  Margaret  Pierce,  Mrs.  Hampton,  Mary 
Bigelow,  Emeline  Free,  or  the  Light  of  the  Harem.  —  Proxy  Wo- 
men: Bliss  Eliza  Roxy  Snow,  Zina  D.  Huntington,  Amelia  Par- 
tridge, Mrs.  Cobb,  Mrs.  Smith,  Clara  Chase,  the  Maniac— ; Amelia, 
the  last  love.  —  The  Prophet  in  love  the  Thirtieth  Time 191 


CHAPTER  XIL 

POLYGA3IY. 

Condition  of  Woman  among  various  Heathen  Nations. — Influence 
of  Christianity.  —  Mormonism  and  Woman.  —  Brigham  offers  to 
set  the  Women  Free. — Arguments  in  Favor  of  Polygamy.  —  The 
Argument  against  it.  —  Abraham  and  Sarah.  —  Appeal  to  Mormon 
Women.  —  Their  Unhappy  Condition. — Evil  Effects  of  the  System. 
—  Illustrations 215 


CHAPTER  Xm. 

THE    EXDOW5IEXT, 

A  Mormon  Drama 244 


10  CONTENTS. 

PAOH 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

BRIOHAM  AS  GRA^'D  ABCHEE  OF  THE  ORDER  OF  THE  GODS. 

Organization  of  the  Order  of  the  Archees.  —  The  Grand  Archees.  — 
The  Archees.  —  The  Danites.  —  Organization  of  Brigham's  Celes- 
tial Kingdom.  —  Doctrine  of  Adoption. — Case  of  Dr.  Sprague. — 
Description  of  Leading  Danites:  Bill  Hickman,  Porter  Rockwell, 
Robert  T.  Burton.  —  Affidavits 261 

CHAPTER  XV. 

RECENT  EVENTS.  —  CONCLUSION. 

Parsonal  Appearance  and  Character  of  Brigham  Young.  —  His  Aims 
and  Purposes.  —  Solution  of  the  Mormon  Question.  —  New  Compli- 
cations. —  Military  Reviews  of  Mormons.  —  Governor  Durkee.  — 
Counteracting  Influences.  —  The  Mines  and  Miners.  —  Rev.  Norman 
McLeod.  —  The  "  Salt  Lake  Vedette."  —  Administration  of  General 
Connor.  —  Murder  of  Brassfield.  —  Order  of  Young  for  the  Expul- 
sion of  the  Gentiles.  —  Order  for'the  Murder  of  Eighty  Men.  — Diffi- 
culties concerning  the  Public  Lands.  —  Murder  of  Dr.  Robinson.  — 
The  Gentiles  flee  in  Terror.  —  The  Government  fails  to  protect  its 
Officers  and  Citizens.  —  The  Hero  of  Three  Wars  of  the  Republic 
hunted  through  the  Territory.  —  Rev.  Mr.  JIcLeod  warned  not  to 
return  to  Utah.  —  The  Reign  of  Terror  commenced.  —  The  Gentiles 
call  for  Help 273 


THE  MORMON  PROPHET. 


CHAPTER    I. 

EARLY  HISTORY  OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG. 

The  Birth  and  Parentage  of  Brigluuii  Young. — His  Broth^s  and  Sisters. —     r 
He  embraces  MormjMri?ni,/aH(r^^eeom^e*arXeacf^r.— ^^ppointed  Presi- 
dent of  the  Twafve,  aiii^(mBrr~d5ced  atjjie  P^rl  of . 
succeed  Joseph  O'tnitb^^EjtaUlislRs-thOLtrtiio^  in  ^!^t^La]^Valle/ 

Brigham  Young  was  born  at  Whitingham,  Windham 
County,  Vermont,  June  1,  1801.  A  short  sketch  of  the  fam- 
ily of  this  noted  adventurer  may  not  be  uninteresting.  The 
following  extract  is  from  his  autobiography :  — 

"  My  grandfather,  John  Young,  was  a  physician  and  surgeon 
in  the  French  and  Indian  war. 

"My  father,  John  Young,  was  born  March  7,  1763,  in  Hopkin- 
ton,  Middlesex  County,  Massachusetts.  He  was  very  circumspect, 
exemplary  and  religious,  and  was,  from  an  early  period  of  his  life, 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
enlisted  in  the  American  Revolutionary  War,  and  served  under 
General  Washington  ;  he  was  in  three  campaigns  in  his  own  native 
State,  and  in  New  Jersey.  In  the  year  1 785  he  married  Nabby 
Howe,  daughter  of  Phineas  and  Susannah,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Goddard. 

"In  January,  1801,  he  moved  from  Hopkinton  to  Whitingham, 
Windham  County,  Vermont,  where  he  remained  for  three  years, 
opening  new  farms. 

"  He  moved  from  Vermont  to  Sherbiu-n,  Chenango  County, 
New  York,  in  1804,  where  he  followed  farming,  endui'ing  many 
hardships  and  privations,  incidental  to  new  settlements. 


12  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG. 

"  My  father's  family  consisted  of  five  sons  and  six  daughters, 
yiz. : — 

"  Nancy,  born  iu  Hopkinton,  Middlesex  County,  Massachusetts., 
August  6,  1786. 

"  Fanny,  born  in  the  same  place,  November  8,  1787. 

"  Rhoda,  born  in  Platauva  District,  New  York,  September  10, 
1789. 

"  John,  born  iu  Hopkinton,  Middlesex  County,  Massachusetts, 
May  22,  1791. 

"  Nabby,  born  in  same  place,  April  23,  1793. 

"  Susannah,  born  in  same  place,  June  7,  1795. 

"  Joseph,  born  in  the  same  place,  April  7,  1797. 

"  Phineas  Howe,  born  in  same  place,  February  16,  1799. 

"  Brigham,  born  in  Whitiugham,  Windham  County,  Vermont, 
June  1,  1801. 

"  Louisa,  boij^  in  Sherburn,  Qhenango  County,  New  York, 
September  25,  180.4. 

"Lorenzo  Dow,  born  in  same  place,  October  19,  1807." 

It  is  wortby  of  remark,  that  all  of  Brigham's  family  be- 
came Mormons.  His  father,  John  Young,  was  constituted 
first  patriarch  of  the  church,  and  died  at  Quincy,  Illinois, 
October  12,  1839.  His  brothers  are  all  at  Salt  Lake,  and 
are  the  devoted  followers  and  satellites  of  the  Prophet. 

Through  the  plurality  system,  the  Youngs  have  formed 
connections  so  numerous,  that  almost  half  the  people  at  Salt 
Lake  are  in  some  way  related  to  the  ruling  dynast3^  This 
is  striking  evidence  of  Brigham's  ingenuity  in  consolidating 
and  perpetuating  his  power.  ^ 

His  early  life  was  that  of  a  farmer's  son,  but  he  afterwards 
acquired  the  trade  of  a  painter  and  glazier,  which  he  followed 
until  his  conversion  to  Mormonisra.  In  1832,  being  then 
thirty-one  years  of  age,  he  heard  and  embraced  this  new 
religion.  He  was  convinced  by  Samuel  H.  Smith,  brother 
to  the  prophet  Joseph,  and  was  baptized  by  Eleazer  Miller, 
now  living  at  Salt  Lake. 

Brigham  "  gathered "  with  the  saints,  at  Kirtland,  Ohio, 
and  soon   became  intimate   with  Joseph   Smith.     He  was 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF   BRIGIIAM  YOUNG.  13 

ordained  an  elder,  and  began  preaching.  His  shrewdness, 
and  ahno-it  intuitive  knowledge  of  character,  s^oon  attracted 
the  attention  of  his  brethren,  and  gave  him  influence  and 
position  in  this  weak  and  despised  church.  They  recognized 
in  him  a  man  born  to  rule  and  lead  the  masses.  They  were 
attracted  by  his  strong,  electrical  will ;  and  from  that  time  his 
power  in  the  church  has  been  undisputed. 

In  1835,  on  the  14th  of  February,  at  Krrtland,  Bingham 
Young  was  ordained  one  of  the  newly-organized  quorum  of 
the  Twelve  Apostles.  Armed  with  his  new  power,  and  fired 
with  a  zeal  worthy  of  a  better  cause,  he  went  forth,  and 
preached  and  proselyted  with  marked  success. 

Thomas  B.  Marsh'  having  apostatized,  Brigham  was  cho- 
sen to  succeed  him,  as  President  of  the  Twelve  Apostles,  in 
1836. 

Then  came  the  dark  days  of  Mormonism.  Many  of  tlie 
prominent  men  of  the  church  apostatized.  The  saints  were 
driven  from  Kirtland.  Smith  fled  to  save  his  life  ;  Brig- 
ham  accompanied  him,  and  after  many  hair-breadth  escapes, 
many  trials  and  hardships,  they  again  planted  a  new  colony, 
and  settled  in  Far  West,  Missouri. 

But  the  saints  were  destined  ag^in  to  endure  persecution 
for  their  faith.  In  a  few  years  they  were  driven  from  Mis- 
souri, seeking  a  home  this  time  in  Illinois.  During  all  this 
time  Brigham  stood  firm,  counselling  and  directing  his  breth- 
ren, and,  like  the  rock  amid  the  storms,  gathering  fresh  power 
of  resistance  as  the  waves  of  persecution  increased  in  fury. 

In  1839  he  was  appointed,  with  others,  to  "  open  up  the 
gospel  "  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  British  Isles.  They  landed 
at  Liverpool  on  the  6th  of  April,  1840,  and  immediately 
commenced  preaching.  Brigham  superintended  affairs,  issued 
an  edition  of  the  "  Book  of  IMormon,"  and  commenced  the 
publication  of  the  "  Millennial  Star,"  a  periodical  still  living. 
In  1841  he  sailed  for  New  York,  having  shipped  seven  hun- 
dred and  sixty-nine  of  the  faithful,  and  leaving  many 
churches,  with  organizations  com[)Ieted. 


14  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG. 

Brigham  was  cordially  received  by  Smith,  and  the  saints 
generally,  who  appreciated  and  acknowledged  his  services, 
and  it  was  evident  that  his  influence  and  fame  were  rapidly 
increasing. 

In  1844  the  whole  aspect  of  affairs  was  changed.  Smith 
was  sliot,  Nauvoo  threatened  by  a  mob,  and  the  Twelve 
Apostles  scattered.  Sidney  Rigdon  assumed  the  Presidency, 
he  being  Smith's  first  counsellor.  Divisions  were  numerous, 
and  the  church  was  in  imminent  danger  of  falling  into  hope- 
less ruin. 

Brigham,  with  true  Napoleonic  foresight,  saw  his  opportu- 
nity, and  was  not  slow  to  improve  it.  He  came  hurriedly  to 
Nauvoo,  denounced  Rigdon  as  an  impostor  and  his  revela- 
tions as  emanations  from  the  Devil,  cut  off  both  him  and  his 
adherents  from  the  true  church,  cursed  Rigdon,  and  "  handed 
him  over  to  the  buffetiugs  of  Satan  for  a  thousand  years,"  and 
was  himself  elected  President  by  an  overwhelming  majority. 

This  exhibition  of  energy  silenced  all  opposition.  Those 
who  did  not  love,  feared  him  ;  and  all  suffered  themselves  to 
be  led,  because  they  dared  not  resist,  a  man  so  determined  to 
rule. 

Thus  much  accomplished,  and  visions  of  future  power  and 
aggrandizement,  perchance  of  temporal  sovereignty,  floated 
through  the  brain  of  this  modern  Mohammed.  He  dreamed 
of  the  kingly  robe  and  the  jewelled  crown  in  some  far-off 
valley  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  where  gentiles  or  their  laws 
could  not  annoy  the  saints,  or  hinder  the  normal  develop- 
ment of  Mormonism.  How  and  in  what  manner  these 
dreams  came  so  near  fulfilment,  will  be  seen  as  the  reader 
peruses  these  pages. 

But  he  did  not  lose  sight  of  the  present  in  these  glowing 
visions  of  the  future.  He  completed  the  Temple,  the  Man- 
sion-House  was  in  a  forward  state,  Nauvoo  was  increasing 
rapidly,  and  with  it  his  power  and  popularity. 

Brigham,  however,  with  his  usual  foresight,  saw  the  storm 
arising.     The  saints  were  again  to  be  driven.     So  he  hur* 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG-  15 

ried  the  people  through  their  endowments,  bound  them  to 
him  by  oaths  which  made  them  shudder  to  recall,  and  still, 
by  an  art  equal  to  that  of  Loyola,  so  inwound  himself  in 
their  affections  that  they  loved  and  reverenced  him  the  more. 
He  aroused  their  deepest  hatred  toward  the  "  gentiles ; " 
wrought  upon  their  pride,  ambition,  and  revenge,  until  they 
were  ready  to  do  and  dare  anything  for  their  religion  and 
their  leader.  When  his  power  was  thus  fully  established,  he 
revealed  to  them  "  the  will  of  the  Lord  concerning  them." 
They  must  leave  their  beautiful  Nauvoo,  their  sacred  tem- 
ple, their  altai'S  and  their  homes,  and  follow  him  as  the 
Moses  of  the  new  dispensation,  and  he  would  find  for  them 
a  Canaan,  a  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey,  where  the 
gentiles  should  never  come.  This  was  a  trial  of  their  faith. 
Should  they  yield  to  the  temptation,  and,  hankering  after  the 
flesh-pots  of  Egypt,  lose  their  birthright  ?  They  wept,  they 
hesitated,  but  the  strong  will  and  iron  nerve  of  Brigham  con- 
quered, and  they  obeyed. 

In  February,  1846,  they  crossed  the  Mississippi  on  the 
ice,  and  leaving  home,  property,  and  kindred,  they  took  up 
their  hue  of  march  for  the  land  of  the  setting  sun.  As  the 
long  trains  rolled  by,  Brigham  comforted,  counselled,  and 
blessed  the  weeping  emigrants.  He  told  them  of  the  land 
where  they  should  worship  "  under  their  own  vine  and  fig- 
tree,  with  none  to  molest  or  make  them  afraid."  Alas  for 
their  fainting  hearts  !  Little  did  they  suspect  that  the  cruel 
ambition  of  their  God-man  would  lead  them  to  a  land  as 
barren  as  the  Desert  of  Sahara,  and  as  devoid  of  vegetation 
as  the  Rock  of  Gibraltar. 

They  established  themselves  in  winter-quarters  at  Kanes- 
ville,  now  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa.  Here  new  difiiculties  arose. 
The  church  was  poor,  and  means  were  needed  to  supply  the 
current  necessities,  as  well  as  to  defray  the  expense  of  the 
journey  to  their  new  Zion.  Various  schemes  were  resorted 
to  for  the  purpose  of  "  raising  the  wind."  A  band  of  Dan- 
ttes  was  sent  out  to  steal  cattle  and  horses,  and  convey  them 


16  FARLY  HISTORY  OF  BPJGHA3I  YOUNG. 

beyond  the  jurisdiction  of  the  State  authorities.  Others 
were  detailed  to  make  and  circidate  counterfeit  money. 
While  these  little  speculations  were  progressing,  Brigham 
was  trying  his  hand  at  diplomacy.  He  is  reported  to  have 
sent  James  C.  Little  to  Washington,  to  request  the  privilege 
of  raising  a  battalion  of  Mormons  for  the  Mexican  war. 

This  movement  was  prompted  by  several  considerations. 
First,  it  was  thought  necessary  for  the  safety  of  the  church 
that  they  should  make  a  show  of  patriotism ;  secondly,  these 
soldiers  would  draw  pay  from  the  government,  which  Brig- 
ham  could  appropriate  ;  and  thirdly,  they  were  to  be  dis- 
charged in  Mexico,  where,  at  that  time,  he  designed  to  found 
his  theocratic  monarchy.  It  has  been  asserted  by  some  per- 
sons that  Brigham  received  $20,000  from  tlie  government, 
as  a  bonus,  for  raising  the  battalion  ;  but  I  find  no  evidence 
to  substantiate  this  assertion.  The  following  affidavit  will 
show  in  what  manner  he  was  benefited  by  this  transaction  :  — 

"  Territory  op  Utah,  ) 

Great  Salt  Lake  City.  ) 
"  Alexander  IMcCord  says  that  be  was  mustered  into  the  U.  S. 
service  in  the  Mormon  Battalion,  August  16th,  1846.  That  an 
advance  of  $42.50  was  issued  by  the  government  per  man,  osten- 
sibly for  the  purpose  of  clothing  the  command,  making  a  total  to 
the  battalion  of  S22,500.  That  this  amount  was  received  by 
Parley  P.  Pratt,  and  forwarded  by  him  to  Brigham  Young,  who 
proffered  to  api)ly  the  same  for  the  benefit  of  the  families  of  the 
battalion,  who  were  in  a  state  of  destitution.  That  he,  Brigham, 
informed  them  he  would  send  to  St.  Louis,  purchase  goods,  and 
deal  them  out  for  the  benefit  of  said  families  at  wholesale  prices. 
Also  made  a  covenant  with  them,  calling  upon  God  and  angels  to 
witness  the  same.  That  he  would  transport  their  families  to  them 
in  Mexico,  now  California,  even  if  he  had  to  leave  his  own  family 
behind ;  also  would  provide  houses  for  them.  That  in  his  public 
address  to  the  battalion,  in  relation  to  this  subject,  he  strongly 
urged  tlie  advantages  that  would  accrue  to  his  church  by  their 
compliance  with  this  requisition,  making  it  entirely  a  matter  of 
self-interest,  with  the  sole  view  of  accomplishing  certain  privato 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG.  17 

ends ;  and  not  in  anywise  appealing  to  their  loyalty,  or  setting 
forth  the  necessity  of  rendering  assistance  to  the  parent  govern- 
ment. 

"  That  he  did  not  fulfil  the  promises  he  had  made.  Some  few 
articles  were  served  out  to  their  families  at  enormous  rates,  —  his 
(]McCord's)  wife  having  to  take  sole-lefither,  for  which  she  had  no 
use.  That  when  their  Avives  appealed  to  him,  expecting  in  good 
laith  to  receive  according  to  promise,  he  laughed,  mimicked,  and 
made  fun  of  them  on  the  public  stand;  showing  how  they  cried 
and  whined.  On  the  arrival  of  the  money  at  Council  Bluffs, 
some  of  the  women,  being  entirely  destitute,  desired  their  hus- 
bands' share,  and  some  cried  for  the  want  of  it.  Young  ridiculed 
them,  and  told  them  if  they  insisted  upon  having  the  money,  tl|iey 
must  not  look  to  him  for  support  or  protection  ;  thus  compelling 
them  to  accept  of  his  terms. 

"  Two  agents,  John  D.  Lee  and  Major  Egan,  followed  the 
battalion  to  Santa  Fe,  and  there  received  a  draft  on  Leavenworth, 
for  the  first  month  and  a  half's  pay,  with  the  understanding  from 
the  soldiers  it  was  to  be  paid  to  their  families.  The  authorities  of 
the  church  drew  the  amount,  and  then  took  out  the  tithing  for 
themselves,  one  tenth. 

"  One  of  the  inducements  held  out  by  the  government,  was  to 
discharge  them,  with  their  arms  in  Mexico,  which  was  done. 
When  he  (McCord)  arrived  in  Utah,  October,  1847,  he  found 
his  family  not  here,  and  was  prevented  by  the  church  authorities 
from  going  after  them  ;  and  was  not  permitted  to  leave  until 
January  following.  When  he  reached  his  family  at  Winter  Quar- 
ters, Missouri,  he  found  no  preparations  made  for  their  being  for- 
warded to  Utah,  and  there  were  none  made  afterwards. 

(Signed,)        Alexander  McCord. 

"  Territory  of  Utah,  ss. 

"  Alexander  McCord,  being  duly  sworn,  says  that  the  facts  set 
forth  in  the  foregoing  statement  by  him  subscribed,  of  his  own 
knowledge,  are  true,  and  those  set  forth  upon  information  and 
belief  he  verily  believes  to  be  true. 

(Signed,)        Alexander  McCord." 

"  Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me,  this  4th  day  of  May,  1864 
"  Thomas  J.  Drake, 
"  Associate  Justice  U.  S.  Sup.  Court,  Utah." 
2 


18  EARLY   HISTOKY  OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG. 

By  this  operation,  Brigham  must  have  realized  the  neat 
little  sum  of  $10,000.  This  enabled  him  to  fit  out  an  expe-  , 
dition  to  explore  the  country  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
Accordingly,  in  the  spring  of  1847,  with  one  hundred  and 
forty-three  of  his  tried  adlierents,  he  made  the  journey  to 
Salt  Lake,  where  they  arrived  July  24,  1847.  A  colony 
was  at  once  established,  and  a  part  of  the  number  left  to 
commence  farming  operations.  Brigham,  with  the  remain- 
der, returned  to  "  "Winter  Quarters."  Here  he  found  the 
people  on  the  point  of  starvation,  while  fevers  and  the  cholera 
were  rapidly,  thinning  their  ranks.  Brigham  at  once  com- 
menced alleviating  their  suffering,  and  in  the  excess  of  their 
gratitude,  these  j)Oor  deluded  creatures  did  not  see  that  he 
was  the  cause  of  all  their  misery. 

Young  was  now  ready  to  enact  another  scene  in  this  Mor- 
mon drama.  He  was  ruling  the  church  in  the  capacity  of 
President  of  the  Twelve  Apostles.  He  desired  greater  power ; 
he  wished  to  occupy  the  place  of  the  Prophet  of  the  Lord. 
This  was  the  more  difficult,  as  the  people  venerated  the  mem- 
ory of  Joseph  Smith,  sanctified  as  it  was  by  the  remembrance 
of  his  cruel  and  untimely  death.  Brigham  knew  well  the 
extent  of  this  feeling,  and  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  sup- 
plant Joseph  in  their  affections,  and  extremely  difficult  to 
occupy  his  position.  But  his  plans  demanded  that  he  should 
be  in  form  what  he  was  in  fact,  —  the  absolute  head  of  the 
church.  He  resolved  to  execute  a  brilliant  coup  d'etat,  and 
risk  the  consequences. 

On  the  morning  of  the  24th  of  December,  1847,  he  as- 
cended the  pulpit  to  preach  ;  and  with  that  power  of  mimicry 
and  imitation  for  which  he  is  so  remarkable,  aided,  doubtless, 
by  works  of  art  to  enable  him  to  represent  the  features  and 
personnel  of  Smith,  he  so  completely  assumed  the  tone  and 
manner,  and  presented  the  appearance  of  Josejih,  that  the 
congregation  believed  that  their  dead  prophet  stood  before 
them.  The  effect  was  electrical.  Women  screamed  and 
fainted ;  strong  men  wept ;  the  delusion  was  complete.   "  Tlie 


EARLY  HISTORY   OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG.  19 

mantle  of  Joseph  had  fallen  upon  Brigham  ;""  he  was  hence- 
forth their  Pro^Dhet,  Seer,  and  Revelator,  the  rightful  suc- 
cessor to  the  Presidency.  One  old  brother  told  me  that  he 
really  believed  that  Joseph  was  present  in  the  flesh,  so  strong 
was  the  personal  re.semblance  at  the  time.  As  soon  as  the 
tumult  subsided,  the  people  elected  Brigham  "  President  of 
the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter  Day  Saints  in  all  the 
world."  He  appointed  Heber  C.  Kimball  and  Willard  Rich- 
ai'ds  as  his  counsellors.  These  three  constituted  the  "  First 
Presidency."  This  action  was  subsequently  confirmed,  at  a 
conference  held  April  6,  1S48,  at  the  same  place.  Brigham 
was  now  the  nominal  as  well  as  the  real  leader  of  this  strange 
community. 

A  greater  trial  demanded  his  forethought.  The  whole 
church  was  to  be  removed  over  a  thousand  miles,  through  an 
almost  unknown  country,  full  of  dangers  and  difficulties. 

The  following  account  of  the  manner  in  which  this  difficult 
undertaking  was  executed,  is  from  the  pen  of  John  Hyde, 
Jr.:  — 

"  Some  ability  is  required  to  efficiently  remove  bodies  of  armed 
troops  over  such  new  and  pioneering  obstacles :  well  supplied, 
equipped,  and  mounted,  it  takes  a  commander's  skill ;  but  here 
were  poor,  unprovided,  feeble  men,  women,  and  children,  shaking 
with  ague,  pale  with  suffering,  hollow  and  gaunt  with  recent  hun- 
ger. Without  strife,  without  discord,  almost  without  a  murmur, 
this  heterogeneous  mass  moved  off.  Many  groaned  with  anguish, 
but  none  with  complaint.  Brigham's  energy  inspired  them  all; 
his  genius  controlled  them  all.  Marking  their  road  with  their 
gravestones,  they  arrived  at  Salt  Lake  Valley,  destitute  and 
feeble,  in  1848.  The  desert  to  which  they  had  come  was  as  cheer- 
less as  their  past  history.  From  cruel  foes  they  had  fled  to  as 
unfeeling  a  wilderness.  Renewed  difficulties  demanded  a  renewed 
effiart  from  Brigham.  Everything  depended  on  him.  Starvation 
and  nakedness  stared  in  the  gloomy  faces  of  the  desponding  people. 
Murmurs  and  complaints  were  uttered.  He  quelled  everything ; 
scolded,  plead,  threatened,  prophesied,  and  subdued  them.  With 
a  restless  but  resistless  energy  he  set  them  to  work,  and  worked 
himself  as  their  example.     He  directed  their  labors,  controlled 


20  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG. 

their  domestic  affairs,  preached  at  them,  to  them,  for  them.  He 
told  foolish  anecdotes  to  make  them  laugh,  encouraged  their  danc- 
ing to  make  them  merry,  got  up  theatrical  performances  to  distract 
their  minds,  and  made  them  work  hard,  certain  of  rendering  them 
contented  by-and-by.  Feared  with  a  stronger  fear,  venerated 
with  a  more  rational  veneration,  but  not  loved  with  the  same 
clinging  tenderness  that  the  people  still  felt  for  Joseph  Smith, 
Brigham  swayed  them  at  his  will.  They  learned  to  dread  his  iron 
hand,  and  were  daunted  by  his  iron  heart."  * 

While  he  was  thus  consolidating  his  power,  laying  plans 
for  the  foundation  of  a  monarchy  more  despotic  than  that  of 
Austria,  important  changes  were  going  on  in  the  political 
condition  of  the  country.  Mexico  was  conquered,  and  much 
of  its  territory,  including  Utah,  was  annexed  to  the  United 
States,  and  the  Mormons  thus  again  brought  within  the  juris- 
diction of  the  Federal  Government. 

From  this  era  in  Mormon  affairs  Brigham  appears  in  so 
many  different  characters  that  his  history  can  only  be  fully 
written  by  considering  him  in  his  various  roles,  —  as  "  Gov- 
ernor of  Utah  and  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs  ;  "  "  Pres- 
ident of  the  Church,  Prophet,  Seer,  and  Revelator ; "  "  Trustee 
in  Trust  for  the  Church  ;"  "  President  of  the  Emigration  Com- 
pany ;  "  "  Lord  of  the  Harem  ; "  "  Eloheim,  or  Head  God  ; '' 
and  "  Grand  Archee  of  the  Order  of  the  Gods." 

*  Mormonism  ;  its  Leaders  and  Designs,  by  John  Hyde,  Jr.    New  York ' 
W.  P.  Fetridge  &  Co.    1857.    Page  144. 


CHAPTER  11. 

POLITICAL. 

Brigham  as  Governor  of  Utah  and  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs 

Formation  of  the  State  of  Deseret.  —  Proceedings  of  the  Utah  Legisla- 
ture. —  Brigham's  Proclamations.  —  DifKculties  with  the  Federal  Offi- 
cers. —  Proceedings  of  the  first  Judges. 

Bt  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  concluded  between 
the  United  States  and  Mexico  in  1848,  the  country  now  em- 
braced in  the  Territory  of  Utah  was  transferred  from  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  latter  to  that  of  the  former,  and  on  the  9th 
of  September,  1850,  Congress  passed  an  Act  to  organize  the 
Territory  of  Utah. 

The  Mormons  arrived  in  the  Salt  Lake  Valley  on  the  24th 
of  July,  1847,  while  the  Territory  yet  belonged  to  Mexico. 
When  the  peace  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico  was 
concluded,  the  Mormons  were  left  without  a  government. 
They  took  advantage  of  this  opportunity  to  set  up  an  inde- 
pendent government. 

Early  in  1849  they  met  in  convention  to  frame  a  consti- 
tution for  "  the  State  of  Deseret."  The  following  is  an  ab- 
stract of  the  minutes  of  that  convention  :  — 

On  the  loth  of  March,  1849,  the  convention  appointed 
the  following  persons  a  committee  to  draft  a  constitution  for 
the  State  of  Deseret,  to  wit :  Albert  Carrington,  Joseph  L. 
Heywood,  William  W.  Phelps,  David  Fullmer,  John  S. 
Fullmer,  Charles  C.  Rich,  John  Taylor,  Parley  P.  Pratt, 
John  M.  Bernheisel,  and  Erastus  Snow. 

March  18,  1849,  Albert  Cari'ington,  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee, reported  the  following  constitution,  which  was  read, 


22  POLITICAL. 

and  unanimously  adopted  by  the  convention  :  [The  preamble 
only  is  here  given.] 

"  CONSTITUTIOX   OF   THE    StATE   OF   DeSERET. 

"Whereas  a  large  number  of  the  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
before  and  since  the  treaty  of  peace  with  the  Republic  of  Mexico, 
emigrated  to  and  settled  in  that  portion  of  the  territory  of  the 
United  States  lying  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  in  the 
great  interior  basin  of  Upper  California ;  and  whereas,  bj'  reason 
of  said  treaty,  all  civil  organization  originating  from  the  Republic 
of  Mexico  became  abrogated ;  and  whereas  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  has  failed  to  provide  a  form  of  civil  government  for 
the  territory  so  acquired,  or  any  portion  thereof;  and  whereas  civil 
government  and  law  are  necessary  for  the  security,  peace,  and 
prosperity  of  society  ;  and  whereas  it  is  a  fundamental  principle  in 
all  republican  governments  that  all  political  power  is  inherent  in 
the  people,  and  governments  instituted  for  their  protection,  secu- 
rity, and  benefit,  should  emanate  from  the  same : 

"  Therefore  your  committee  beg  leave  to  recommend  the  adop- 
tion of  the  following  Constitution,  until  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States  shall  otherwise  provide  for  the  government  of  the  Territory 
hereinafter  named  and  described,  by  admitting  us  into  the  Union. 

"  We,  the  people,  grateful  to  the  Supreme  Being  for  the  bless- 
ings hitherto  enjoyed,  and  feeling  our  dependence  on  Him  for  a 
continuance  of  those  blessings,  do  ordain  and  establish  a  free  and 
Independent  Government,  by  the  name  of  tlie  State  of  Deseret ; 
including  all  the  territory  of  the  United  States  within  the  follow- 
ing boundaries,  to  wit :  [Here  follow  the  boundaries  of  the  pro- 
posed new  State.] 

It  will  be  noticed  by  the  phraseology  of  the  foregoing  pre- 
amble that  this  government  was  to  be  "  free  and  indepen- 
dent," and  was  intended  to  remain  such  until  the  new  State, 
thus  constituted,  should  he  admitted  into  the  Union.  In  other 
words,  they  intended,  through  the  machinery  of  this  inde- 
pendent State,  to  harass  and  annoy  the  government,  and  the 
gentiles,  until  the  "saints"  could  force  themselves  into  the 
Union  upon  their  own  terms.  This  theory  is  fully  sustained 
by  the  subsequent  history  of  this  inchoate  State.     The  very 


POLITICAL.  23 

first  steps  taken  were  independent  of,  and  in  hostility  to,  the 
olficers  appointed  by  the  Government  of  the  United  States, 
as  will  more  fully  appear  in  tiie  following  pages. 

The  formation  of  this  government  for  the  State  of  Deseret 
was  the  first  efibrt  to  throw  off  the  yoke  of  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment, —  an  effort  which  has  been  persistently  persevered 
in  to  the  present  time. 

There  never  has  been  a  time  since  Brigham  Young  crossed 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  when  he  has  honestly  entertained  the 
idea  of  bemg  a  good  and  loyal  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

The  following  were  the  first  officers  of  this  infant  mon- 
archy :  — 

Governor,  Brigha:m  Young. 

Lieutenant-Governor,  Heber  C.  Kimball. 

Chief  Justice,  Daniel  H.  Wells. 

The  Assembly  met,  and  after  listening  to  the  Governor's 
Message,  proceeded  to  frame  a  code  of  laws.  This  pseudo 
State  government  remained  in  force  until  the  22d  of  Septem- 
ber, 1851,  when  the  Territorial  Legislature  convened. 

In  the  mean  time  Brigham,  having  been  appointed  Gov- 
ernor of  the  newly  organized  Territory,  and  Superintendent 
of  Indian  Affairs,  and  seeing  a  fair  prospect  of  lining  his 
pockets  from  the  treasury  of  the  United  States,  concluded 
to  forego  for  a  time  his  ambitious  projects,  and  consented 
that  the  new  "  State  "  should  be  merged  into  a  United  States 
Territory. 

The  federal  officers  were  appointed  during  the  session  of 
1850-51,  but  owing  to  the  difiiculty  of  transportation,  did 
not  arrive  until  July,  1851.  Young,  who  had  been  appointed 
Governor,  had,  on  the  3d  of  February,  1851,  taken  the  oath 
of  ofiice  before  Wells,  Chief  Justice  of  Deseret. 

The  first  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  was  con- 
vened, in  pursuance  of  the  proclamation  of  the  Governor,  on 
the  22d  day  of  September,  1851,  and  continued  by  adjourn- 
ment from  time  to  time,  until  the  18th  day  of  February; 
1852.     This  was  succeeded  by  a  special  session,  called  by 


24  POLITICAL. 

procluiuatiou  of  the  Governor,  commenciug  the  following  day, 
and  couiinuiiig  until  the  Glh  day  of  March,  18o2.  What 
there  was  in  the  political  condition  of  this  community,  sub- 
jected as  they  were,  in  almost  all  the  relations  of  life,  to  a 
complete  and  comprehensive  system  of  religious  government, 
to  require  a  continuous  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature 
for  nearly  six  moutiis,  has  never  yet  been  explained. 

The  ibllowing  is  extracted  from  the  published  proceedings 
of  the  first  Legislative  Assembly :  — 

"Kepuesextativks'  Hall,  Tuesdaj',  Sept.  23, 1852. 

"  10  o'clock,  A.  M.  Both  bouses  of  the  Legislative  Assembly 
met  in  joint  session,  according  to  previous  arx'angement.  The 
President  of  the  Council  in  the  chair. 

"  The  committee  appointed  to  that  duty  appeared,  escorting  his 
Excellency  Brigham  Young,  Governor  of  Utah  Territory,  who 
was  seated  immediately  in  front  of  the  Speaker's  chair. 

"  The  joint  committee  appointed  to  wait  upon  the  Judges  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Territory,  appeared, 
escorting  the  Hon.  Z.  Snow  [Mormon],  one  of  said  Judges.  They 
rei)orted  that  they  had  visited  the  Hon.  Perry  E.  Brochus,  and 
Mr.  Secretary  Harris.  But  the  answer  returned  by  them  was  so 
vague  and  indefinite  that  they  did  not  know  whether  they  would 
respond  to  the  invitation  or  not.  The  committee  also  reported  that 
they  did  not  see  the  Hon.  Judge  Brandenburg.  The  United  States 
District  Attorney,  Seth  M.  Blair,  Esq.,  [Mormon,]  was  also  seated 
within  the  bar." 

The  hostility  to  the  federal  officers  had  already  been  so 
openly  and  offensively  manifested,  that  the  respect  which 
these  gentlemen  owed  to  themselves  and  the  government  and 
{)eople  whom  they  represented,  would  not  permit  them  to  be 
present  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  Legislative  Assembly.  It 
will  be  noticed  that  one  of  them  was  not  seen  at  all,  and  the 
reply  of  the  other  two  was  not  even  reported  ! 

"  The  House  was  called  to  order  by  the  President  of  the  Coun- 
cil, who  then  informed  his  Excellency  the  Governor,  that  the  two 
Houses  were  now  ready  to  receive  any  communication  he  might 
be  pleased  to  make." 


POLITICAL.  25 

The  Governor  then  presented  his  Message,  as  follows :  — 
'''■  Fellow-cUizens  of  the  Council  and  House  of  Representatives 
of  Utah  Territory :  — 

"  Having  called  you  from  your  various  avocations  to  convene 
in  general  assembly  at  an  earlier  day,  and  upon  shorter  notice 
than  may  appear  desirable,  I  will  proceed  without  delay  to  lay 
before  you  the  chief  reason  for  so  doing,  as  well  as  such  other  sug- 
gestions as  to  me  shall  appear  necessary  and  proper,  and  as  shall 
occur  to  my  mind."     .     .     . 

"  Through  the  munificence  of  the  General  Government,  we  have 
extended  unto  us  Increased  facihties  for  spending  our  time  for  the 
public  weal;  for,  however  much  the  honest  pride  of  gratuitous 
public  service  may  flatter  its  humble  recipient,  yet  whilst  it  im- 
poverishes all  but  his  honorable  name  and  his  country's  cause,  his 
anxieties  will  scarcely  be  lulled,  his  daily  supplies  but  rarely  re- 
plenished." 

He  again  addressed  them,  January  5,  1852  :  — 

"  .     .     The  enjoyment  of  a  free  and  independent  2}6ople 

can  be  accomplished  only  through  this  principle :  produce  what 
you  consume.  Draw  from  the  native  elements  the  necessaries  of 
life  ;  permit  no  vitiated  taste  to  lead  you  into  expensive  luxuries, 
which  can  only  be  obtained  by  involving  yourselves  in  debt.  Let 
home  industry  produce  every  article  of  home  consumjjtion."    .     . 

This  Legislature,  besides  passing  a  code  of  laws  for  the 
government  of  the  Territory,  sent  some  twenty  memorials  to 
Congress,  most  of  them  calling  for  appropriations  of  public 
money,  and  divided  up  the  canyons,  ferries,  pasture-lands, 
woodlands,  water  privileges,  and,  in  fact,  all  the  most  valu- 
able portion  of  the  public  domain,  among  prominent  "  saints," 
giving  always  to  Brigliam  the  "  lion's  "  share.  To  this  he 
was  entitled  by  his  recognized  appellation  of  "  the  Lion  of 
the  Lord." 

To  this  day  he  holds,  by  virtue  of  an  Act  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, the  most  valuable  canyon,  near  Salt  Lake,  called  City 
Creek,  or  Brigham's  Canyon,  —  having  taken  actual  posses- 
sion of  the  same,  by  fencing  in  the  mouth  of  the  canyon  com- 


26  POLITICAL. 

pletely,  and  thus  preventing  all  ingress  or  egress,  except 
upon  the  payment  of  toll.  General  Connor,  upon  his  arrival 
in  Utah,  in  the  fall  of  1862,  was  justly  indignant  to  find 
himself  fenced  out  from  one  of  the  national  thoroughfares, 
but  thought  it  prudent  not  to  add  to  the  causes  of  irritation 
by  interfering. 

During  this  session  Brigham  issued  eight  proclamations. 
The  following  is  the  most  celebrated  of  these  State  Papers :  — 
"  Territory  of  Utah. 
"  A  Proclamation  for  a  Day  of  Praise  and  Thanksgiving. 

"  It  having  pleased  the  Father  of  all  good  to  make  known  his 
mind  and  will  to  the  children  of  men  in  these  last  days,  and 
through  the  administration  of  his  angels  to  restore  the  holy  priest- 
hood uuto  the  sons  of  Adam,  by  Avhieh  the  gospel  of  his  Son  has 
been  proclaimed,  and  the  ordinances  of  life  and  salvation  are  ad- 
ministered ;  and  through  which  medium  the  Holy  Ghost  has  been 
communicated  to  believing,  willing,  and  honest  minds ;  causing 
faith,  wisdom,  and  intelligence  to  spring  up  in  the  hearts  of  men, 
and  influencing  them  to  flow  together,  from  the  four  quarters  of 
the  earth,  to  a  land  of  peace  and  health,  rich  in  mineral  and  vege- 
table resources,  reserved  of  old  in  the  councils  of  eternity  for  the 
purposes  to  which  it  is  now  appropriated  ;  a  land  choice  above  all 
other  lands ;  far  removed  from  the  strife,  contentions,  divisions, 
moral  and  physical  commotions,  that  are  disturbing  the  peace  of 
the  nations  and  kingdoms  of  the  earth,  — 

"  I,  Brigham  Young,  Governor  of  the  Territory  aforesaid,  in 
response  to  the  time-honored  custom  of  our  fathers  at  Plymouth 
Kock,  by  the  governors  of  the  several  States  and  Territories,  and 
with  a  heart  filled  with  humiliation  and  gratitude  to  the  Fountain 
of  all  good,  for  his  multijjlied  munificence  to  his  children,  have  felt 
desirous  to,  and  ^o,  proclaim  Thursday,  the  1st  day  of  January, 
eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-two,  a  Day  of  Praise  and  Tlianks- 
giving,  for  the  citizens  of  this  our  peaceful  Territory,  in  honor  of 
the  God  of  Abraham,  who  has  preserved  his  children  amid  all  the 
vicissitudes  they  have  been  called  to  pass ;  for  his  tender  mercies 
in  preserving  the  nation  undivided  in  which  we  hve ;  for  causing 
the  gospel  of  his  kingdom  to  spread  and  take  root  upon  the  earth, 
beyond  the  power  of  men  and  demons  to  destroy ;  and  that  he 


POLITICAL.  27 

has  promised  a  day  of  universal  joy  and  rejoicing  to  all  the  inhab- 
itants who  shall  remain  when  the  earth  shall  have  been  purified 
by  fire,  and  rest  in  peace. 

"  And  I  recommend  to  all  good  citizens  of  Utah,  that  they  ab- 
stain from  everything  which  is  calculated  to  mar  or  grieve  the 
spirit  of  their  Heavenly  Father  on  that  day  ;  that  they  rise  early 
in  the  morning  of  the  first  day  of  the  new  year,  and  wash  their 
bodies  ivith  pure  water ;  that  all  men  attend  to  their  flocks  and 
herds  with  carefulness,  and  see  that  no  creature  in  their  charge  is 
hungry,  thirsty,  or  cold ;  while  the  women  are  preparing  the  best 
of  food  for  their  households,  and  their  children  ready  to  receive  it 
in  cleanliness  and  cheerfulness  ;  then  let  the  head  of  each  family 
•with  his  family,  bow  down  upon  his  knees  before  the  God  of  Israel, 
and  acknowledge  all- his  sins,  and  the  sins  of  his  household ;  call 
upon  the  Father,  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  for  every  blessing  that  he 
desires  for  himself,  his  kindred,  the  Israel  of  God,  the  universe  of 
man ;  praying  with  full  purpose  of  heart  and  united  faith  that  the 
union  of  the  United  States  may  be  preserved  inviolate,  against 
all  the  devices  of  wicked  men,  until  truth  shall  reign  triumphant, 
and  the  glory  of  Jehovah  shall  fill  the  earth.  Then,  in  the  name 
of  Jesus,  ask  the  Father  to  bless  yom'  food ;  and  when  you  have 
filled  the  plates  of  your  household,  partake  with  them  with  rejoic- 
ing and  thanksgiving ;  and  if  you  feel  to  make  merry  in  your 
hearts,  sing  a  song  of  thanksgiving ;  and  lift  up  your  hearts  con- 
tinually, in  peace  and  acknowledgment  of  the  unbounded  mercies 
you  are  momentarily  receiving. 

"  I  also  request  of  all  good  and  peaceful  citizens,  that  they  ab- 
stain from  all  evil  thinking,  speaking,  and  acting,  on  that  day; 
that  no  one  be  ofiended  by  his  neighbor  ;  that  all  jars  and  discords 
cease ;  that  neighborhood  broils  may  be  unknown ;  that  tattlers  and 
strife  may  not  be  remembered  ;  that  evil  sm-mising  may  be  forgot- 
ten ;  that  all  may  learn  the  truth,  and  have  no  need  of  priests  to 
teach  them ;  that  all  may  be  well,  and  have  no  need  of  doctors ; 
that  all  may  cease  their  quarrels,  and  starve  the  lawyers  ;  that  all 
may  do  as  they  would  be  done  unto,  so  that  perfect  love,  which 
casteth  out  all  fear,  may  reign  triumphant,  and  there  shall  be 
nothing  to  disturb  the  quiet  of  an  infant  in  all  the  Territory  of 
Utah ;  that  there  be  no  contention  in  the  land ;  and  that  the 
same  peace  may  extend  its  influence  to  the  utmost  bounds  of  the 
everlasting  hills,  and  from  thence  to  the  habitation  of  every  man 


28  POLITICAL. 

and  beast,  to  the  ends  of  the  earth  ;  till  the  leopard  shall  lie  down 
with  the  kid,  the  lion  shall  eat  straw  like  the  ox,  and  the  babe 
shall  lay  his  hand  upon  the  cockatrice's  den,  and  find  peace  to  its 
soul. 

"  I  further  request,  that  when  the  day  has  been  spent  in  doing 
good,  in  dealing  your  bread,  your  butter,  your  beef  and  your 
pork,  your  turkeys,  your  molasses,  and  the  choicest  of  all  the 
products  of  the  valleys  of  the  mountains,  at  your  command,  to  the 
poor ;  that  you  end  the  day  in  the  same  order,  and  on  the  same 
principle  that  you  commenced  it ;  that  you  eat  your  supper  with 
singleness  of  heart,  as  unto  the  Lord,  after  praise  and  tlianksgiv- 
ing,  and  songs  of  rejoicing ;  remembering  that  you  cannot  be  filled 
with  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  be  preparing  for  celestial  glory,  while 
the  meanest  menial  under  your  charge  or  control  is  in  want  of 
the  smallest  thing  which  God  has  given  you  power  to  supply ; 
remembering  that  it  is  dependent  on  you  for  its  comforts,  as  you 
are  dependent  on  your  God  for  your  constant  support. 

"  Retire  to  your  beds  early,  that  you  may  be  refreshed,  and 
rise  early  again,  and  so  continue,  until  times  and  seasons  are 
changed  ;  or  finally,  I  say  unto  you,  let  the  same  process  be  con- 
tinued from  day  to  day,  until  you  arrive  unto  one  of  the  days  of 
Kolob,  [where  a  day  is  1000  of  our  years,]  the  planet  nearest  to  the 
habitation  of  the  Eternal  Father ;  and  if  you  do  not  find  peace 
and  rest  to  your  souls  by  that  time,  in  the  practice  of  these  things, 
and  no  one  else  shall  present  himself  to  offer  you  better  counsel, 
I  will  be  there,  and  knowing  more,  will  tell  you  what  you  ought  to 
do  next. 

"  Done  at  the  Executive  Office,  Great  Salt  Lake 
City.  In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my 
hand  and  caused  the  seal  of  the  Territory  to  be 
affixed,  this  19th  day  of  December,  A.  d.  1851,  and 
of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  the 
seventy-sixth. 
"  By  the  Governor,  BRIGHAM  YOUNG. 

"  W.  Richards,  Sec.  jn'o  tern.,  appointed  by  the  Governor." 

Amidst  the  verbosity  of  this  singular  document  will  hd 
seen  expressions  of  attaeluncnt  to  the  Federal  Union.  The 
sincerity  of  these  professions  must  be  judged  of  in  the  light 
of  his  contemporaneous  acts.     The  officers  appointed  by  the 


POLITICAL.  29 

General  Government  were  then  in  the  States,  or  at  "Washing- 
ton, representing  truly  the  condition  of  things  in  Utah,  and 
the  conduct  of  Brigham  and  his  associates,  which  effectually 
obliged  them  to  leave  the  Territory,  by  rendering  their  pres- 
ence in  Utah  not  only  useless  but  dangerous.  It  is  for  our 
readers  to  say  how  much  weight  is  to  be  given  to  that  portion 
of  the  fulmination  of  the  Prophet  put  forth  under  such  cir- 
cumstances. 

At  this  first  session  of  the  Legislature,  Brigham  proceeded 
to  give,  in  his  Message,  his  views  in  relation  to  African 
slavery,  fully  indorsing  it,  and  prescribing  regulations  for  its 
establishment  in  the  Territory.  His  views  upon  this  subject 
may  be  gathered  from  the  following  extract :  — 

"  Thus  while  servitude  may  and  sliould  exist,  and  that  too  upon 
those  ■who  are  naturally  designed  to  occupy  the  position  of  servant 
of  servants,  yet  we  should  not  fall  into  the  other  extreme,  and 
make  them  as  beasts  of  the  field,  regarding  not  the  humanity  that 
is  in  the  colored  race ;  nor  elevating  them,  as  some  seem  disposed, 
to  an  equality  with  those  whom  nature  and  nature's  God  has  indi- 
cated to  be  their  masters,  their  superiors." 

In  accordance  with  the  foregoing  suggestions,  the  Legisla- 
ture passed  a  law  regulating  slavery  in  the  Territory,  and  it 
has  existed  in  full  force  and  effect  to  the  present  time.  There 
are  now  a  considerable  number  of  African  slaves  in  the 
Territory,  and  a  large  number  of  Indians,  "  held  to  service." 

During  the  same  session,  the  Legislature  memorialized  the 
President,  setting  forth  that  the  federal  officers  had  aban- 
doned the  Territory  ;  reciting  the  formation  of  the  provisional 
government  of  Deseret,  and  complaining  that  "  all  the  author- 
ities of  the  Territory,  including  the  governor  and  both  houses 
of  the  Assembly,  and  marshal,  had  been  set  at  naught  as 
exercising  their  functions  illegally  and  unconstitutionally." 

The  causes  which  led  to  this  petition  were  as  follows  :  — 

"When  the  Territory  was  organized,  in  the  winter  of  1850- 
51,  the  following  named  officers  were  appointed:  —  Brigham 
Young,  Governor ;   Lemuel  C.  Brandenburg,  Chief  Justice  ; 


80  POLITICAL. 

Perry  E.  Brochus  and  Zerubbabel  Snow,  Associate  Justices 
Seth  M.  Blair,  Attorney  General,  and  B.  D.  Hams,  Secre- 
tary. These  officers  did  not  arrive  in  Utah  until  July,  1851. 
Previous  to  their  arrival,  Brighara  Young  had  issued  a  pro- 
clamation ordering  an  election  for  delegate  to  Congress  and 
members  of  the  Legislature,  and  providing  for  taking  the 
census. 

The  Secretary  considered  that  Young  had  exceeded  his 
authority,  and  on  this  ground  refused  to  pay  over  the  moneys 
in  his  hands  for  the  expenses  of  the  Legislature. 

The  Supreme  Court  being  then  in  session,  Harris  applied 
to  the  court  for  an  injunction  to  stay  the  proceedings  of  the 
Legislature,  which  the  court  granted.  This  order,  however, 
was  nugatory,  as  the  court  had  no  power  to  enforce  its  judg- 
ments. Tliis,  of  course,  enraged  the  Mormons;  and  the  Gov- 
ernor instructed  Blair,  the  District  Attorney,  who  was  a 
Mormon,  to  sue  out  a  writ  of  injunction  upon  the  Secretary, 
to  prevent  him  from  taking  the  money  out  of  the  Territory. 
The  court  decided  against  the  injunction,  thus  again  sustain- 
ing the  Secretary. 

Again,  Congress  had  appropriated  $20,000  for  the  erec- 
tion of  suitable  buildings  at  the  capital  of  the  Territory. 
Brigham  and  his  tools,  the  members  of  the  Legislature,  at- 
tempted to  appropriate  this  money,  and  in  exchange,  palm 
off  upon  the  government,  for  $20,000,  a  building  which  never 
cost  over  $8,000. 

These  circumstances  engendered  much  feeling  between  the 
Mormons  and  the  gentile  officers  ;  and  this  was  in  nowise 
lessened  by  an  incident  which  occurred  about  this  time. 

Hon.  Perry  E.  Brochus,  one  of  the  Supreme  Judges,  in 
some  remarks  made  in  a  Mormon  assembly,  commented 
rather  severely  upon  the  peculiar  institution.  He  com- 
menced by  addressing  the  women  upon  the  subject  of  spirit- 
ual wife-ism ;  pointing  out  to  them  its  wickedness  and  the 
unhappy  results  that  must  follow  to  them  and  to  their  chil- 
dren, if  the  practice  should  be  persisted  in.     He  said  it  was 


POLITICAL.  SI 

against  the  laws  of  man  and  God.  This  was  undoubtedl;y 
the  first  time,  at  Salt  Lake,  that  a  gentile  had  ever  spoken 
in  public  against  Mormon  institutions. 

The  women  were  excited  ;  the  most  of  them  were  in  tears, 
before  he  had  spoken  many  minutes.  The  men  were  aston- 
ished and  eni'aged,  and  one  word  of  encouragement  from 
tlieir  leader  would  have  brought  on  a  collision.  Brigham, 
with  his  usual  shrewdness,  saw  this,  and  was  equal  to  the 
occasion.  When  the  Judge  sat  down,  he  rose,  and  by  one 
of  those  strong,  nervous  appeals,  for  which  he  is  so  famous 
among  his  brethren,  restored  the  equilibrium  of  the  audi- 
ence. Those  who,  but  a  moment  before,  were  bathed  in 
tears,  now  responded  to  his  broad  sarcasm  and  keen  wit,  in 
screams  of  laughter ;  and  having  fully  restored  the  spirits  of 
the  audience,  be  turned  to  the  Judge,  and  administered  the 
following  rebuke  :  "  I  will  kick  you,"  he  said,  "  or  any  other 
gentile  Judge  from  this  stand,  if  you  or  they  again  attempt 
to  interfere  with  the  affairs  of  our  Zion." 

The  Judge  saw  that  he  was  beaten,  and  finding  his  life 
threatened  and  in  danger,  soon  after  left  the  Territory. 

After  his  departure,  Brigham  preached  the  following  ser- 
mon :  — 

"  I  am  at  the  defiance  of  the  rulers  of  the  greatest  nations  on 
the  earth,  with  the  United  States  all  put  together,  to  produce  a 
more  loyal  people  than  the  Latter  Day  Saints.  Have  they,  as  a 
people,  broken  any  law  ?  No,  they  have  not.  Have  the  United 
States  ?  Yes.  They  have  trampled  the  Constitution  under  their 
feet  with  impunity,  and  ridden  recklessly  over  all  law,  to  perse- 
cute and  drive  this  people.  Admit,  for  argument's  sake,  that  the 
Mormon  elders  have  more  wives  than  one,  yet  our  enemies  never 
have  proved  it.  If  I  had  forty  wives  in  the  United  States,  they 
did  not  know  it,  and  could  not  substantiate  it ;  neither  did  I  ask 
any  lawyer,  judge,  or  magistrate  for  them.  I  live  above  law,  and 
so  do  this  people.  Do  the  laws  of  the  United  States  require  us 
to  crouch  and  bow  down  to  the  miserable  wretches  who  violate 
them  ?     No ! 

"  I  defy  the  world  to  prove  that  we  have  infringed  upon  that 


32  POLITICAL. 

law.  You  may  circumscribe  the  whole  earth,  and  pass  through 
every  Christian  nation,  so  called,  and  what  do  you  find  ?  If  you 
tell  them  a  '  Mormon '  has  two  wives,  they  are  shocked,  and  call 
it  dreadful  blasphemy.  If  you  whisper  such  a  thing  in  the  ears  of 
a  gentile,  who  takes  a  fresh  woman  every  night,  he  is  thunder- 
struck with  the  enormity  of  the  crime 

"  Now,  let  me  tell  you  the  great,  killing  story.  '  Governor 
Young  has  sixteen  wives  and  fourteen  babies.'  Now,  they  did 
not  see  that  sight,  but  the  circumstance  was  as  follows :  I  took 
some  of  my  neighbors  into  the  large  carriage,  and  rode  down  to 
Father  Chase's  to  eat  watermelons.  When  driving  out  of  the 
gate,  in  the  evening.  Brother  Babbitt  walks  up,  and  I  invited  him 
into  the  carriage,  and  he  rode  up  into  the  city  with  me,  and  I 
suppose  he  told  the  United  States  officers.  That,  I  believe,  is  the 
way  the  story  of  the  sixteen  wives  and  fourteen  children  first  came 
into  circulation. 

"  But  this  does  not  begin  to  be  the  extent  of  my  possessions, 
for  I  am  enlarging  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left ;  and  sliall 
soon  be  able,  Abraham-like,  to  muster  the  strength  of  my  house, 
and  take  my  rigltts,  asking  no  favors  of  judges  or  secretaries." 

At  another  time  lie  used  the  following  language  :  — 

"When  the  officers  returned  from  this  Territory  to  the  States, 
did  we  send  them  away  ?  We  did  not.  I  will  tell  you  what  I 
did,  and  what  I  will  do  again.  I  did  chastise  the  poor,  mean 
ruffian,  — the  poor,  miserable  creature  who  came  here  by  the  name 
of  Brochus,—  when  he  arose  before  this  people,  to  preach  to  them, 
and  tell  them  of  meanness  which  he  supposed  they  were  guilty  of, 
and  traduce  their  characters. 

"  It  is  true,  as  it  is  said  in  the  report  of  these  officers,  if  I  had 
crooked  my  little  finger  he  would  have  been  used  up.  But  I  did 
not  bend  it.  If  I  had,  the  sisters  alone  felt  indignant  enough  to 
have  chopped  him  in  pieces.  I  did  not  do  it,  however,  but  suffered 
him  to  fill  up  the  measure  of  his  shame  and  iniquity,  until  his  cup 
is  running  over. 

"  I  have  no  fears  whatever  of  Franklin  Pierce  excusing  me 
from  office,  and  saying  that  another  man  shall  be  the  Governor  of 
this  Territory.  At  the  beginning  of  our  settlements,  when  we 
Bcnt  Almon  W.  Babbitt  to  Washington  with  our  constitution  for  a 
State  government,  and  to  ask  leave  to  adopt  it,  he  requested  that 


POLITICAL.  83 

I  slioukl  not  sign  my  name  to  it  as  Governor  ;  '  for,'  said  he,  '  if 
you  do,  it  will  thwart  all  our  plans.'  I  said, '  My  name  will  go  as 
it  is  in  that  document,  and  stay  there,  from  tiiis  time  henceforth 
and  forever.  Now,'  I  continued,  '  if  you  do  not  believe  it,  you 
may  go  to  Washington,  and  give  those  papers  to  Dr.  Bernheisel, 
and  operate  against  him,  and  against  our  getting  a  State  govern- 
ment, and  you  cannot  hinder  it.' 

''  I  will  be  Governor  still,  after  you  have  done  everything  you 
possibly  can  to  prevent  it.  We  have  got  a  Territorial  Govern- 
ment, and  I  am  and  will  be  Governor,  and  no  power  can  hinder  it, 
until  the  Lord  Almighty  says,  '  Brigham,  you  need  not  be  Gov- 
ernor any  longer ; '  and  then  I  am  willing  to  yield  to  another 
Governor." 

This  "  sermon  "  was  preached  at  Great  Salt  Lake  City, 
June  19,  1853,  and  is  published  in  the  "Journal  of  Dis- 
courses," vol.  i.  p.  188. 

Brigham  had  appointed  his  second  counsellor,  AVillard 
Richards,  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  departure  of 
Secretary  Harris.  So  the  saints  had  fairly  succeeded  ia 
ridding  themselves  of  ihe  obnoxious  officials,  —  the  remaining 
Judge,  and  the  District  Attorney,  .being  Mormons  in  good 
standing. 

The  Hon.  Z.  Snow  then  proceeded  to  hold  his  court,  un- 
molested by  gentile  law  or  judges.  He  tried  and  convicted 
several  Spaniards  of  bupng  Indian  children  for  slaves,  took 
the  children  from  the  Spaniards,  and  turned  them  over  to 
the  "  brethren." 

The  Indians  now  began  to  be  hostile,  and  the  brethren 
were  obliged  to  cease  pursuing  the  gentiles,  and  prepare  to 
defend  themselves  against  the  "  Lamanites."  During  the 
years  1852-53-54,  more  or  less  disturbances  prevailed. 

In  October,  1852,  Judge  Shaver  arrived,  as  successor  to 
Judge  Brochus ;  and  Lazarus  H.  Reed,  of  New  York,  was 
appointed  Chief  Justice,  to  succeed  Judge  Brandenburg. 
Judge  Reed  arrived  in  the  Territory  in  June,  1853.  Of 
these,  Brigham  said,  —  * 

"  One  of  our  judges.  Judge  Shaver,  has  been  here  during  the 
3" 


34  POLITICAL. 

winter,  and,  as  far  as  he  is  known,  he  is  a  straightforward,  judi- 
cious, ujjright  man,  and  a  good  adjudicator  in  the  law.  He  and 
Judge  Keed,  wlio  has  lately  arrived,  I  believe  will  do  the  best 
they  can,  and  all  is  right." 

Judge  Snow  continued  to  hold  liis  office  until  succeeded 
by  Judge  Stiles,  in  the  fall  of  1854. 

Judge  Shaver  lived  among  the  saints  until  his  death,  and 
was  "  buried  with  the  faithful." 

It  is  currently  reported,  and  believed  by  many,  that 
Judge  Shaver  died  from  the  effects  of  poison,  administered 
by  the  hands  of  a'Mormon.  lie  was  a  Southerner  by  birth, 
agreed  very  well  with  the  Mormons,  gave  suppers,  and 
drank  with  them,  and  was  considered  a  "  hail-fellow  well 
met."  There  was,  however,  some  difficulty  between  the 
Judge  and  the  Prophet,  the  nature  of  which  was  not  distinctly 
known.  The  difficulty  increased,  and  one  morning  the  Judge 
was  found  dead  in  his  bed.  The  heads  of  the  church  took 
great  pains  to  have  the  affair  investigated,  and  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  Judge  had  died  of  some  "  disease  of  the 
head."  He  was  followed  to  the  grave  by  a  large  concourse 
of  people,  and  preceded  by  a  band  of  music. 

Less  regard  would  be  paid  to  these  invidious  reports,  were 
it  not  for  the  fact  that  Brigham  Young's  connection  Avith  the 
violent  death  of  divers  other  persons  is  too  notorious  to  be 
denied.  To  say  nothing  of  the  Mountain  Meadow  massacre, 
in  which  he  is  distinctly  implicated  by  evidence  of  an  over- 
whelming character,  there  are  other  cases  in  which  his 
agency  in  causing  in  some  way  the  death  of  the  party,  is 
scarcely  denied  by  himself. 

For  instance,  the  death  of  Alnion  W.  Babbitt,  at  the 
hands  of  "Indians,"  on  the  Plains.  In  the  summer  of  18G2, 
Brigham  was  referring  to  this  affair,  in  a  tea-table  conversa- 
tion, at  which  Judge  Waite  and  the  writer  of  this  were  pres- 
ent. On  that  occasion,  after  making  -some  remarks  to  im- 
press upon  the  minds  of  those  present  the  necessity  of  main- 
taining friendly  relations  between  the  federal  officers  and  the 


POLITICAL.  35 

authorities  of  the  church,  he  used  language  substantially  as 
follows :  — 

"  There  is  no  need  of  any  difficulty,  and  there  need  be  none, 
If  the  officers  do  their  duty,  and  mind  their  own  affairs.  If  they 
do  not,  if  they  undertake  to  interfere  In  affairs  that  do  not  con- 
cern them,  I  will  not  be  far  off.  There  was  Almon  W.  Babbitt. 
He  undertook  to  quarrel  with  me,  hut  soon  afterwards  was  killed 
hy  Indians.    He  lived  like  a  fool,  and  died  like  a  fool." 

People  determined  to  believe  only  that  Brigham  Young 
is  a  good  citizen,  and  that  he  and  his  people  are  mostly  in 
the  right  in  their  difficulties  with  the  federal  officers,  will 
doubtless  be  able  to  put  an  innocent  construction  upon  the 
foregoing  language.  But  to  the  minds  of  those  who  heard 
it,  and  who  were  most  interested  in  its  meaning,  it  never  had 
but  one  signification,  and  went  far  to  disclose  the  dark  and 
damning  character  of  the  man. 

But  to  return  to  our  narrative.  Judge  Reed  seems  to 
have  been  more  fortunate  in  his  intercourse  with  these  people. 
The  Mormons  wished  to  eradicate  from  his  mind  all  unfavor- 
able impressions  created  by  the  sudden  departure  of  his 
predecessors.  They  therefore  treated  him  with  marked  con- 
sideration. They  hoped,  through  his  influence,  to  reinstate 
themselves  with  the  authorities  at  Washington,  and  they 
partially  succeeded.  The  Judge  formed  quite  a  favorable 
opinion  of  the  Mormons,  though  not  indorsing  the  adminis- 
tration of  Brigham  Young.  He  remained  in  the  valley 
about  a  year,  and  then  went  to  the  States,  intending  to  re- 
turn, but  died  suddenly,  while  at  his  home,  in  Bath,  Steuben 
County,  New  York. 


CHAPTER  III. 

POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

CoL  Steptoe  and  Brigham  Young. — Brigham  reappointed  Governor. — 
John  F.  Kinney.  —  Western  Utah,  or  Nevada. — Letter  of  Hon.  James 
M.  Crane.  —  Judge  Stiles  and  the  Records.  —  AY.  W.  Drummond. 

In  1854  Col.  Steptoe,  with  about  300  men,  came  to  Salt 
Lake.  His  command  was  intended  for  California  and  Ore- 
gon, but  spent  the  winter  of  1854-55  at  Salt  Lake  City. 

About  this  time  John  F.  Kinney,  of  Iowa,  was  appointed 
Chief  Justice,  to  succeed  Eeed,  and  George  P.  Stiles,  Asso- 
ciate Justice  ;  Joseph  HoUman,  also  of  Iowa,  Attorney-Gen- 
eral, and  Almdb  "W.  Babbitt,  Secretary.  In  the  spring  of 
1855,  TV".  W.  Drummond,  of  Illinois,  was  appointed  Asso- 
ciate Justice. 

During  the  winter  of  1854-55,  news  reached  Salt  Lake 
that  President  Pierce  had  commissioned  Col.  Steptoe  as 
Governor  of  Utah.  This  alarmed  the  saints  exceedingly. 
The  Lion  of  the  Lord  was  roused.    Something  must  be  done. 

Col.  Steptoe  had  the  appointment  under  consideration  for 
several  weeks,  and  finally  refused  to  accept  it,  and  joined 
with  Chief  Justice  Kinney  and  others  in  recommending  the 
continuance  in  office  of  Governor  Young. 

The  question  naturally  arises.  Why  did  Col.  Steptoe  re- 
fuse to  accept  the  appointment,  and  recommend  Brigham 
Young  ?  Mormons  would  tell  you,  in  confidence,  that  Brig- 
ham "  put  a  hook  in  his  nose,"  and  he  was  compelled  to  do 
as  he  did.  The  Propliet  of  the  Lord  had  said  he  would  be 
Governor,  and  no  power  but  the  Lord  Almighty  could  hin- 
der it. 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  87 

Daring  aud  unscrupulous  as  a  brigand,  having  the  meana 
at  his  command,  and  the  ingenuity  to  use  them,  why  should 
he  not  outwit  the  government  and  deceive  the  people  of  the 
United  States  ?  He  was  determined  not  to  relinquish,  with- 
out an  eflort  to  retain  them,  the  power  and  emoluments  of 
his  position.  The  following  narrative  of  the  manner  in 
which  he  accomplislied  his  purposes,  has  been  furnished  by 
a  Mormon  who  was  residing  in  Salt  Lake  City  at  the  time, 
and  the  employment  of  similar  appliances  on  more  than  one 
occasion  afterward,  gives  the  coloring  of  truth  to  the  story. 

There  were  in  Salt  Lake  City,  at  that  time,  two  beautiful 
and  fascinating  women,  one  of  whom  was  by  marriage  nearly 
related  to  the  Prophet ;  the  other  was  an  actress  in  the 
church  theatre.  Their  husbands  were  both  "  on  a  mission." 
These  ladies  were  a  great  deal  in  the  society  of  Col.  Steptoe 
and  his  officers.  Much  attention  was  paid  to  the  military 
officers,  and  it  would  be  but  natural  that  these  men  should 
be  both  pleased  and  flattered  by  the  attention  of  sisters  occu- 
pying so  high  a  place  in  the  hierarchy.  According  to  report, 
however,  the  character  of  these  women  was  not  such  as  their 
exalted  position  in  the  church  would  seem  to  require. 

One  evening  Brigham  called  "  the  girls  "  to  him,  and  ex- 
plained that  he  had  a  plan  in  which  he  needed  their  assist- 
ance. They  at  once  consented  to  do  anything  he  might  de- 
sire. The  plan  was  soon  agreed  upon.  He  placed  his  Dan- 
ites  at  a  convenient  distance  around  the  Colonel's  office,  and 
calmly  awaited  developments.  In  a  short  time  one  of  the 
"  police  "  came  to  the  Prophet,  and  signified  that  it  was  time 
for  him  to  appear  on  the  field.  He  went  immediately  down 
to  the  Colonel's  office,  Avhich  was  on  Main  Street,  and  knocked 
for  admittance.  For  some  time  no  one  responded,  but  the 
knocking  continuing  violently.  Col.  Steptoe  asked  who  was 
there.  "  Brigham  Young,"  said  the  angry  Prophet ;  "  and 
I  want  to  come  in,  and  I  will  come  in."  At  this  Steptoe 
opened  the  door,  and  Brigham  entered  the  front  office.  He 
seemed  excited,  and  without  being  seated,  asked  if  Mary 


38  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

and  Mrs. were  there;  adding,  —  "I  want   the   giils." 

Steptoe  denied  their  presence ;  but  could  a  prophet  be  de- 
ceived ?  "I  know  better,"  said  he  ;  "  I  know  thoy  are  here  ; " 
at  the  same  time  walking  into  tlie  back  otfice.  There,  on  the 
sofa,  sat  two  young  gentlemen  dressed  in  the  highest  style,  but 
wearing  their  hats.  Brigham  advanced,  lifted  the  hats  of 
the  fancy  gentlemen,  and  the  ladies  he  was  seeking  sat  befoi'e 
him.  Of  course,  the  righteous  indignation  of  the  Prophet 
knew  no  bounds.  He  threatened  Steptoe  with  exposure  and 
prosecution,  and  told  him  his  life  would  not  be  safe  if  the 
friends  of  the  ladies  came  to  hear  of  the  affair.  He  cen- 
sured the  girls,  and  told  them  to  go  home,  and  finally  calmed 
down,  and  left  the  office. 

Steptoe  was  greatly  alarmed,  and,  as  a  compromise,  offered 
to  recommend  Brighara  for  the  appointment  which  had  just 
been  tendered  to  himself.  "With  ill-concealed  satisfaction  on 
the  part  of  Brigham  and  his  friends,  the  proposition  was  ac- 
cepted, and  "  the  matter  arranged." 

Soon  after,  a  petition  was  sent  to  the  President,  dated 
December  30,  1854,  and  asking  for  the  reappointment  of 
Young  as  Governor.  This  was  signed  by  Col.  Steptoe  and 
most  of  his  oflBcers,  and  by  all  the  federal  officers  then  in 
Utah. 

This  array  of  gentile  names  was  not  to  be  disregarded, 
and  Brigham  Young  was  reappointed  Governor  of  Utah. 

In  1854  John  F.  Kinney  w^as  appointed,  by  Franklin 
Pierce,  Chief  Justice  of  Utah,  and  came  to  the  valley  with 
his  family  and  a  large  stock  of  goods  the  same  year.  He 
was  known  in  Iowa  as  a  "  Jack  Mormon,"  and  subsequent 
events  have  proven  that  he  was  such.  He  sold  goods  and 
kept  a  boarding-house  ;  and  at  once  entered  into  favor  with 
the  Mormon  administration.  He  was  pecuniarily  interested 
in  keeping  the  good-will  of  his  trading  customers;  and  this 
fact,  together  with  his  undoubted  sympathy  with  the  church, 
will  satisfactorily  account  for  the  course  pursued  by  him  in 
the  complicated  condition  of  the  Territory. 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  39 

It  is  not  our  purpose  to  detract  from  the  merits  of  any  one 
We  desire  to  do  justice  to  all.  But  the  impartial  truth  of 
history  requires  us  to  say  that  the  uniform  course  of  Judge 
Kinney  has  been  to  aid  and  abet  Brigham  Young  in  hio 
ambitious  schemes,  with  but  little  regard  to  the  advancement 
of  the  interests  of  the  whole  country,  or  the  requirements  of 
indiscriminate  justice. 

As  to  his  merits  as  a  jurist,  the  writer  of  these  pages 
cannot  undertake  to  decide.  But  it  would  seem,  to  one  un- 
initiated, that  a  Judge  cannot  be  very  profound  who  will  try, 
convict,  and  sentence  ^en  not  within  the  jurisdiction  of  his 
court,  and  even  men  not  in  the  land  of  the  living.  This  was 
done  by  Judge  Kinney,  in  the  case  of  the  Morrisites,  —  dis* 
senters  or  apostates  from  the  Mormon  Church. 

In  the  spring  of  1863  a  large  number  of  these  men  were 
tried,  convicted,  and  fined  $100  each.  Many  of  them  were 
out  of  the  Territory  at  the  time,  and  one  was  dead.  This 
statement  is  fully  substantiated  by  affidavits  which  were 
taken  at  the  time.  Over  ninety  were  tried  and  convicted, 
about  twenty  of  whom  were  out  of  the  Territory,  and  one 
had  died  before  the  trial  commenced. 

When  the  cases  were  called  on  for  trial,  it  was  stated  that 
some  of  the  accused  were  absent.  The  Judge  remarked,  it 
made  no  difference  ;  he  was  gratified  that  so  many  had  made 
their  appearance,  and  directed  the  trial  to  proceed.  All 
were  found  guilty,  and  sentenced  to  pay  a  fine  of  $100  each, 
except  a  few  of  the  leaders,  who  were  sentenced  to  the  peni- 
tentiary, —  one  of  them  for  fifteen  years. 

These  men  were  accused  of  resisting  the  Mormon  officers 
wOio  came  to  arrest  them.  Robert  T.  Burton,  the  sheriff  of 
Salt  Lake  County,  who  was  the  principal  one  thus  "  resisted," 
had  shot  Morris,  their  Prophet,  in  cold  blood,  after  he  and  his 
party  had  surrendered;  and  yet,  while  the  Morrisites  were  so 
severely  punished.  Burton  went  scot  free.  The  grand  jury 
of  Salt  Lake  County  would  not  even  find  a  bill  of  indictment 
against  him.  Burton  stands  high  in  the  community,  and  was 
afterwards  appointed  Collector  of  Internal  Revenue. 


40  POLITICAL  HISTORi'  COXTIXUED. 

But  this  is  not  all.  Not  only  were  all  of  the  accused  tried 
and  convicted,  but  the  bonds  of  those  absent  were  declared 
by  the  clerk  to  be  forfeited,  and  execution  was  issued  against 
those  resident  in  Utah,  to  collect  the  penalty  of  the  bonds. 
At  the  same  time,  the  records  showed  no  judgments  againsi 
the  delinquents.  One  of  these  Morrisites,  named  Abraham 
Taylor,  found  his  property,  worth  S2500,  suddenly  levied 
upon,  under  one  of  these  executions.  There  being  no  gen- 
tile lawyer  at  Salt  Lake,  he  applied  to  Judge  Waite,  who 
investigated  the  matter,  and  found  there  was  no  judgment  of 
record.  He  then  advised  Mr.  Taylor  to  apply  to  Judge 
Kinney  for  an  injunction  against  the  officer.  This  was  done  ; 
but  the  application  was  refused  by  Judge  K.  on  the  ground 
that  if  there  was  no  judgment  he  could  render  one,  as  the 
court  had  not  permanently  adjourned,  but  only  to  meet  on  his 
own  motion.  This  response  to  the  application  of  a  suitor  is 
a  sufficient  indication  of  the  ability  of  Judge  Kinney,  and  of 
his  desire  to  administer  impartial  justice. 

The  result  of  the  whole  matter  was,  that  the  homestead 
of  Mr.  Taylor  was  sold  under  the  execution,  to  the  clerk  of 
Judge  Kinney's  court,  for  $200 ;  the  family  of  Taylor  im- 
poverished, and  literally  turned  into  the  street.  After 
remaining  out  of  doors,  in  front  of  the  house,  for  a  day  or 
two,  they  took  refuge  at  the  camp  of  Gen.  Connor. 

In  his  personal  appearance  Judge  Kiimey  is  pompous  and 
conceited.  He  is  of  the  medium  size,  rather  stout,  with  dark 
com[)lexion.  Brusque  and  ready  in  conversation,  and  never 
declining  to  drink  when  invited,  he  is  well  adapted  to  the 
country  in  which  he  resides,  and  is  immensely  popular  in  the 
community  in  which  he  was  placed  "  to  administer  the  law," 
and  which  he  now  represents  in  Congress.  He  is  an  open 
apologist  and  advocate  of  polygamy. 

Mrs.  Kinney  is  a  sister  of  Judge  Hall;  of  Iowa,  and  an 
accomplished  lady.  She  was  utterly  disgusted  with  Mormon 
society,  and  returned,  with  her  daughters,  to  the  States. 

Judge  Kinney  remained  in  Utah  until  185G.     In  1860  he 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  41 

was  reappointed.  Thus  lie  was  absent  fi-om  the  Territory 
during  all  the  exciting  scenes  of  1857-8  and  9,  and  returned 
after  something  Like  harmony  had  been  restored  in  the  aftairs 
of  the  Territory.  He  managed,  however,  by  having  his 
leave  of  absence  extended  from  time  to  time,  to  retain  the 
office  and  its  emoluments  until  1858.  Since  1860  he  has 
been  back  and  forth,  spending  about  half  his  time  in  either 
portion  of  the  country,  but  retaining  his  position  as  Chief 
Justice,  until  elected  to  Congress  in  1863. 

Judge  Stiles,  who  was  appointed  to  succeed  Snow,  was 
assigned  to  the  third,  or  Carson  District.  He  immediately 
proceeded  to  his  district,  and  held  a  term  of  court. 

The  present  Territory  of  Nevada  was  included  mostly  in 
the  third  judicial  district,  and  much  difficulty  occurred  be- 
tween Mormons  and  the  jniners  in  that  section. 

A  full  account  of  the  proceedings  which  go  to  make  up  the 
history  of  this  part  of  Utah,  will  be  found  in  a  letter  from 
the  Hon.  James  M.  Crane  to  Hon.  William  Smith,  published 
in  1859. 

This  letter  is  so  complete  and  truthful  in  its  statements, 
and  presents  such  a  correct  view  of  the  character  and  tenden- 
cies of  Mormonism,  that  we  insert  it,  nearly  entire  :  — 

"  WASHtN'GTON,  January  17,  1859. 
"Dear  Sir,  : — 

"  As  you  may  need  sofiae  facts  not  reported  at  length  in  the 
memorial  and  other  documents,  relating  to  the  proposed  Territory 
of  Nevada,  I  herewith  submit  them. 

"  The  Mormons  and  Anti-Mormons  began  the  settlement  of 
Western  Utah  in  the  latter  part  of  1854.  The  former,  however, 
succeeded,  in  1855,  in  obtaining  a  numerical  majority;  and  the 
Legislature  of  Utah,  on  being  informed  of  this  fact,  organized  the 
whole  western  part  of  the  Territory,  under  the  name  of  Carson 
County,  and  Governor  Young  appointed  Orson  Hyde,  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Quorum  of  Twelve  Apostles,  its  Probate  Judge.  Soon 
after  the  Judge  arrived,  adventurers  from  California,  as  well  as 
from  the  Atlantic  States,  settled  in  Carson  and  other  valleys  on 
the  eastern  side  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  for  the  purpose  of  mining, 


42  POLITICAL   HISTORY  COXTIXUED. 

farming,  and  raising  stock.  As  they  increased  very  fast,  the 
Mormons  became  alarmed,  and  determined  to  expel  them. 

"  They  therefore  ordered  them  to  leave  the  country.  Of  course 
the  Christians,  or  Anti-Mormons  refused  to  do  so.  The  Mormons 
then  assembled  their  forces,  and  attempted  to  expel  them,  vi  et 
arrnis.  The  Anti-Mormons  also  organized,  and  Ibrtified  them- 
selves, with  a  view  of  defending  their  lives  and  property  against 
their  assailants. 

"  For  two  weeks  their  armies  camped  nearly  in  sight  of  each 
other,  without  coming  to  a  direct  battle. 

"  By  this  time,  news  had  reached  the  miners  in  California  of  this 
state  of  afiairs,  and  a  large  number  had  determined  to  cross  the 
mountains,  and  afford  protection  to  the  Anti-Mormons.  On  hear- 
ing this,  the  Mormons  became  satisfied  that,  unless  they  retraced 
their  steps,  they  would  be  driven  themselves  from  the  country, 
instead  of  the  Anti-Mormons.  They  therefore  proposed  a  truce, 
and  agreed  that  all  should  enjoy  a  common  heritage  in  that  part 
of  the  Territory. 

"  The  IMormons  now  became  satisfied  that  the  Christians  not 
only  could,  but  would  occupy  these  fertile  valleys,  on  the  ground 
that  they  were  the  common  property  of  the  United  States.  When 
the  Legislature  of  Utah  heard  of  this  affair,  that  body,  in  viola- 
tion of  every  constitutional  right,  repealed  the  county  organiza- 
tion, recalled  the  Probate  Judge,  and  removed  all  the  county  and 
court  records  to  Salt  Lake  City,  where  they  have  ever  since 
remained.  Amongst  these  records  were  several  indictments 
against  certain  persons  for  high  crimes  and  misdemeanors.  By 
this  flagrant  violation  of  all  sacred,  individual,  collective,  and 
constitutional  rights,  the  people  of  Western  Utah  were  not  only 
denied  all  legal  protection  to  life  and  property,  but  they  were  dis- 
franchised. They  have  ever  been  unrej^resented  in  the  Legisla- 
ture and  in  Congress.  The  history  of  our  country  presents  no 
such  a  record  of  open  defiance  of  law,  and  such  cruelties  to  men 
under  the  form  of  laws. 

"  For  years  the  Anti-]\Iormons  have  been  applying,  both  to  the 
Territorial  Legislature  and  to  Congress,  for  protection,  without 
success. 

*'  Their  situation  has  ever  been,  and  still  is,  peculiarly  unsafe 
and  annoying.  Recently  a  Probate  Judge  was  surreptitiously 
appointed  for  Carson  Valley,  with  a  view  of  reorganizing  the 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  43 

county  of  Carson,  and  thus   extend  over  tlie   people  there  the 
Mormon  statutes  of  the  Territory. 

"  The  Judge,  soon  after  he  received  his  commission,  undertook 
to  force  on  an  election  of  county  officers.  Enough  of  the  Anti- 
Mormons,  however,  turned  out,  to  defeat  his  purpose,  by  the 
election  of  an  opposite  ticket,  who,  on  being  elected,  refused  to 
qualify,  because  they  were  required  to  obey  the  Mormon  statutes. 
The  Judge  has  been  notified  that  if  he  undertakes  to  enforce  the 
Mormon  statutes  he  will  be  resisted,  —  peaceably  if  they  can,  forci- 
bly if  they  must. 

"  They  will  not  introduce,  nor  permit  others  to  introduce  among 
them,  the  vices  of  that  wicked,  perverse,  and  adulterous  genera- 
tion, who  have  so  long  wielded  the  sceptre  of  authority  in  the 
Great  Basin.  They  will  not  allow,  with  impunity,  their  wives  and 
daughters  to  be  kidnapped,  dishonored,  and  defiled;  nor  submit 
to  laws  made  by  such  a  people,  nor  allow  themselves  to  be  ruled 
by  men  who  practise  and  uphold  vices  and  crimes  so  revolting  to 
the  moral  sense  of  the  world  ;  and  if  the  Mormons  persist  in  their 
present  course,  blood  will  flow. 

"  The  only  loyal  people  of  Utah  are  oppressed,  annoyed,  and 
scandalized,  by  a  government  intended  by  Congress  to  secure 
them  in  their  rights,  and  to  protect  them  in  their  property ;  and 
while  the  present  Territorial  organization  exists,  the  Mormons, 
■who  have  control  of  the  Legislature,  will  never  '  let  up  on  the 
gentiles.' 

"  The  only  remedy  for  this  unnatural  war,  now  raging  between 
the  Mormons  and  the  Anti-Mormons  in  Utah,  is  to  be  found  in 
the  immediate  separation  of  these  people  under  two  distinct  gov- 
ernmental organizations.  One  thing  is  inevitable,  —  the  Mormons 
and  Anti-Mormons  will  never,  and  can  never  live  together  in 
peace,  under  one  government.  The  conflicts  which  took  place 
between  them  in  Ohio,  Missouri,  Elinois,  and  Iowa,  and  which 
are  now  going  on  in  Utah,  ought  to  convince  any  intelligent  man 
of  the  justice  and  truth  of  this  declaration.  Indeed,  the  Mormons 
themselves  acknowledge  it ;  and  so  long  as  they  adhere  to  their 
belief,  —  a  belief  founded  upon  their  own  scriptures,  —  that  an 
absolute  theocracy  is  the  only  government  under  which  they  can 
and  should  live,  they  never  will  be  loyal  to  our  government  and 
countrymen,  and  hence  their  hostility  to  our  institutions  and  peo- 
ple, and  their  inflexible  devotion  to  their  own. 


44  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

"  In  every  State  Avhere  the  Mormons  have  lived,  it  lias  cost  the 
loyal  people  of  the  State  thousands  of  dollars,  as  well  as  the  losa 
of  many  lives,  to  coni2)el  them  to  obey  the  laws.  In  every  instance 
they  have  resisted  our  laws,  and  in  every  State  necessity  demanded 
their  expulsion. 

"  In  Utah,  while  they  were  charged  with  the  administration  of 
the  government  and  execution  of  the  laws,  they  proved  them- 
selves not  only  traitors  to  our  people,  but  treacherous  to  the  gov- 
ernment, and  openly  rebelled  against  them  and  defied  their  author- 
ity, and  it  cost  the  Federal  Government  millions  to  conquer  them. 
They  have  still  control  of  the  Territory,  and  they  are  inflexibly 
bent  upon  subduing  the  Anti-Mormons  of  Western  Utah ;  and  if 
the  latter  are  not  separated  from  them,  and  protected  by  law,  it 
will  require  the  expenditure  of  millions  more  to  restore  order  in 
Utah.  Congress  can  count  the  cost  in  this  matter,  while  we  will 
have  the  melancholy  duty  of  burying  our  dead.  The  people  of 
Nevada  will  never  be  conquered,  —  never  be  ruled  by  the  Mor- 
mons. Come  what  will,  they  will  resist  to  the  bitter  end.  They 
prefer  death  to  dishonor,  and  the  government  may  choose  which 
of  these  shall  be  meted  out  to  them. 

"  In  addition  *to  the  above  considerations,  which  should,  I  be- 
lieve, present  conclusive  and  imposing  evidence,  sufficiently  satis- 
factory to  induce  Congress  to  organize  the  Territory  of  Nevada,  I 
may  likewise  mention  others. 

"  While  the  people  of  Western  Utah  have,  in  the  ]\Iormons, 
open  and  avowed  enemies,  they  have  likewise  the  savage  tribes  to 
defend  themselves  against.  Some  of  these  tribes  are  professed 
Mormons,  while  othei-s  are  under  their  influence.  Many  conflicts 
have  taken  place  between  the  Christians  and  some  of  these  tribes, 
as  well  as  between  the  emigrants,  while  crossing  the  Plains  to  the 
North  Pacific,  and  the  aforesaid  savages  ;  and  there  is  no  hope  of 
estabhshing  amicable  relations  with  these  Indian  tribes,  until  they 
are  brought  under  other  and  better  relations  with  the  Anti-Mor- 
mons of  Utah.  Peace  does  not  reign  in  Utah,  and  never  will, 
under  the  present  order  of  things 

"  When  our  common  country  shall  call  forth  her  sons  to  defend 
her  rights,  the  people  of  Nevada  will  come  forth.  They  will  be 
ready  and  willing  to  meet  the  enemy,  on  the  beach  and  on  the 
frontier,  with  a  sword  in  one  hand  and  a  torch  in  the  other.  They 
will  dispute  every  inch  of  ground,  burn  every  blade  of  grass,  and 


POLITICAL  HISTORY   CONTINUED.  45 

the  last  intrencliment  of  liberty  will  become  their  graves,  rather 
than  permit  a  foreign  enemy  to  contaminate  the  soil  of  our  coun- 
try. Can  this  be  said  of  the  Mormons  ?  I  think  not.  If  we  can 
protect  our  countrymen  abroad,  why  should  we  not,  on  our  own 
soil? 

"  Very  respectfully,  yours, 

"  James  M.  Crane, 

'■'■Delegate  elect  from  Nevada. 
"  To  Hon.  Wm.  Smith." 

"  Having  read  the  above  statement  of  Judge  Crane,  delegate 
from  the  proposed  Territory  of  Nevada,  I  will  state  from  my  own 
ol^ervation,  having  resided  in  the  Territory  of  Utah  for  over  three 
years,  for  a  portion  of  which  time  I  was  in  Carson  Valley,  that  I 
heartily  concur  with  him,  and  fully  indorse  his  statement  in,  rela- 
tion to  the  condition  of  things  in  Western  Utah,  and  seriously 
believe  that  the  wants  and  necessities  of  the  people  of  that  por- 
tion of  the  Territory  demand  its  immediate  organization. 
"  George  P.  Stiles, 

"  Late  Associate  Justice  for  Utah." 

Nevada  was  erected  into  a  Territory,  and  has  made  rapid 
and  gigantic  strides  in  all  the  essentials  of  a  high  civiliza- 
tion. Her  mines  are  celebrated  throughout  the  world,  and 
she  annually  adds  millions  of  dollars  to  the  circulation  of  the 
country. 

Already  are  her  valleys  teeming  with  the  life  of  the  hus- 
bandman, and  her  soil  yielding  up  its  rich  harvests  of  golden 
grain,  for  the  sustenance  of  her  brave  and  patriotic  sons. 
She  has  sent  several  hundred  men  into  the  field,  and  with 
unskaken  loyalty  stands  ready  to  send  more,  if  the  cause  of 
her  country  calls,  —  thus  literally  fulfilling  the  promise  of 
Judge  Crane  made  in  the  foregoing  letter.  Mark  the  con- 
trast between  loyal  and  Christian  Nevada,  and  disloyal  and 
Mohammedan  Utah  !  One  rushing  on  to  a  glorious  and 
happy  destiny,  and  the  other  falling  rapidly  back  into  the 
habits  and  customs  of  heathen  nations.  The  genius  of  Lib- 
erty sits  enthroned  among  the  mountains  of  free  Nevada, 
while  despotism  of  the  most  hideous  character  clanks  her 


46  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTIXUED. 

chains  ia  Utah.  May  the  day  of  deliverance  for  the  op- 
pressed thousands  of  Utah  soon  dawn.  Then  will  she  take 
her  place  among  her  sisters  in  the  family  of  States,  and  the 
hand  of  oppression  be  no  more  felt  in  all  her  fair  borders. 

AVhen  Brighara  Young  found  that  the  gentile  element  was 
gaining  ground  rapidly  in  Carson  County,  his  Legislature 
attached  it  to  Great  Salt  Lake  County,  for  judicial  and  other 
purposes.  A  large  number  of  Mormons  were  sent  on  to 
colonize,  and  if  possible  to  retain,  the  fertile  Valley  of  Ne- 
vada. These  missionaries  were  recalled  in  1857,  as  well 
as  many  others,  who  were  settling  in  different  parts  of  Cali- 
fornia. 

Slowly  and  sullenly  they  relinquished  their  hold  upon  this 
rich  and  prosperous  portion  of  the  Republic.  It  rapidly  ad- 
vanced in  population,  and  not  only  prospered  as  a  Territory, 
as  already  mentioned,  but  has  lately  been  admitted  as  one  of 
the  States  of  the  Union.  The  admission  of  Nevada,  carved 
out  of  Utah,  while  the  mother  Ten-itory  still  remains  out  in 
the  cold,  ought  to  be  a  sufficient  hint  that  Congi'css  and  the 
people  of  the  United  States  are  not  yet  prepared  for  the 
establishment  in  their  midst  of  a  polygamic  monarchy. 

Judge  Stiles  returned  to  Salt  Lake  City,  and  there  held 
several  courts. 

In  the  fall  of  1856  a  conflict  arose,  in  regard  to  the  juris- 
diction of  the  United  States  Marshal.  Heretofore  this  officer 
had  acted  with  the  Mormons,  and  all  had  passed  off  smoothly. 
But  a  real  gentile  was  now  appointed,  and  this  was  the  sig- 
nal for  Mormon  opposition.  The  Mormons  claimed  that  the 
Teriitorial  Marshal,  instead  of  the  United  States  Marshal, 
should  act  in  the  United  States  courts  when  doing  territorial 
business.  The  United  States  Marshal  contended  that  he 
should  officiate  in  all  business  transacted  in  the  United  States 
courts,  whether  sitting  as  federal  or  territorial  courts.  Judge 
Stiles  issued  certain  writs,  directed  to  the  officer,  which  he 
found  it  impossible  to  serve.  The  people,  instigated  by  the 
Mormon  leaders,  refused  to  obey  the  precepts  of  the  court, 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  47 

and  set  at  naught  its  authority,  proclaiming  that  the  time 
had  come  when  their  laws,  and  none  others,  should  be  en 
forced  in  Utah. 

The  question  of  jurisdiction  was  bro.ught  before  the  court, 
and  James  Ferguson,  Hosea  Stout,  and  J.  C.  Little,  Mormon 
lawyers,  loudly  demanded  that  the  Judge  should  decide  in 
their  favor.  Ferguson,  backed  by  an  armed  mob,  told  Judge 
Stiles,  in  open  court,  that  if  he  dared  to  decide  contrary  to 
their  wishes,  he  "would  take  him  from  the  bench  d — d 
quick  " ;  that  the  boys  were  there  to  do  it,  and  he,  with 
others,  by  threats  and  intimidations,  finally  compelled  the 
Judge  to  adjourn  his  court. 

Judge  Stiles  then  appealed  to  Brigham  Young,  as  Gov- 
ernor of  the  Territory,  to  sustain  him,  and  protect  him  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duties.  In  reply,  he  was  coolly  told 
that  "  the  courts  had  already  cost  him  [Brigham]  too  much 
trouble  ;  that  the  boys  had  got  their  spunk  up,  and  he  would 
not  interfere."  He  advised  him,  "if  he  could  not  sustain 
and  enforce  their  [the  United  States]  laws  and  institutions, 
the  sooner  he  adjourned  his  court  the  better." 

These  proceedings  had  a  tendency  to  bring  the  Judge  into 
disrepute  with  the  Mormons.  Thomas  Williams,  a  lawyer, 
had  his  office  with  Judge  Stiles,  on  Main  Street.  Williams, 
though  a  Mormon,  was  an  independent  man,  and  had  openly 
opposed  Brigham  on  some  question  of  politics.  He  had 
also  denounced  some  prominent  murders,  and  was  becoming 
obnoxious,  and  even  dangerous,  to  Brigham  and  his  com- 
peers. The  Prophet  once  said  to  Williams's  father  and 
mother :  "  If  Tom  don't  behave  himself  better,  and  stop 
causing  me  trouble,  I  must  attend  to  him."  Soon  after, 
Williams  apostatized,  and  started  for  Cahfornia,  intending  to 
remain,  and  send  back  for  his  family.  He  met  the  fate  of 
Babbitt.  He  was  waylaid  and  killed  by  "  Indians  "  on  the 
Plains.  It  is  well  understood  at  Salt  Lake  that  these  were 
white  Indians,  and  that  Williams  was  put  to  death  by  order 
of  the  church  authorities. 


48  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

The  records  of  the  United  States  District  Courts  were  in 
Judge  Stiles's  olfice.  He,  and  Williams  also,  had  a  good  many 
law  books,  which  were  private  property.  Brigham  asserted 
that  the  records  were  suffered  to  "lie  around  loose,"  and 
suggested  to  the  boys  that  they  hud  better  be  cared  for.  This 
was  sufficient,  and  "  the  boys "  proceeded  to  "  'tend  to  it." 
James  Ferguson,  Hiram  B.  Clawson,  and  several  others,  re- 
paired to  the  office  of  the  Judge  when  he  was  absent,  and 
stationing  one  of  the  number  to  watch,  they  gathered  up  the 
records  of  the  courts,  fir>t  of  all,  and  conveyed  th(?m  to  a 
lire-aud-burglar-proof-safe,  belonging  to  Young,  and  under 
the  control  of  Clawson,  who  was  his  confidential  clerk  and 
son-in-law. 

Having  deposited  them  safely,  they  returned,  and  taking 
some  of  the  Judge's  papers,  tore  them  in  pieces,  and  scat- 
tered thera  over  the  floor,  and  in  the  direction  of  an  outhouse. 
About  the  same  time  a  large  number  of  the  law  books  found 
their  way  into  the  houses  of  certain  Mormon  lawyers,  where 
they  have  ever  since  remained.  They  then  took  some  of  the 
books  from  the  office,  and  placed  them  in  the  outhouse,  set 
fire  to  the  building,  and  burned  it  to  the  ground. 

When  Judge  Stiles  returned  he  found  the  office  robbed, 
and  the  books  and  papers,  as  he  supposed,  burned. 

Thus  all  business  was  suspended,  and  the  records  of  the 
United  States  Courts  and  government  property  burned  and 
stolen  from  the  custody  of  the  legal  aulborities. 

Judge  Stiles  left  Utah  in  the  spring  of  1857,  and  when  in 
Washington,  made  affidavit  to  the  foregoing  facts.  It  may 
be  well  here  to  state  that  Judge  S.  was  entirely  conscientious 
in  making  his  affidavit,  and  the  prevailing  impression  in  the 
community  was  that  the  records  had  been  destroyed. 

In  the  summer  of  1855  W.  W.  Drummond,  of  Illinois, 
arrived  in  Utah,  as  Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court. 
The  Mormons  allege  that  he  deserted  his  wife,  and  brought 
with  him  a  mistress.  This  caused  much  righteous  indigna- 
tion among  the  saints  !     The  Judge  also  professed  to  be  a 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  49 

warm  friend  and  advocate  of  Senator  Douglas,  whom  the 
Mormons  hate. 

When  Drummond  was  about  to  hold  court,  he  intimated 
that  he  would  set  aside  all  judgments  rendered  by  probate 
Judges,  and  annul  all  their  proceedings,  except  such  as  per- 
tained to  the  usual  and  legitimate  business  of  the  probate 
courts.  Here  was  a  direct  issue,  and  a  conflict  was  inevit- 
able. 

The  court  being  about  to  be  held  in  Fillmore,  a  Jew  was 
hired  for  $25  to  quarrel  with  Drummond.  As  a  part  of  the 
programme,  also,  he  was  to  strike  the  Judge.  The  Jew 
played  his  part,  except  the  blow,  whicb,  for  want  of  opportu- 
nity or  courage,  was  omitted.  Instead  of  this  he  sent  to  the 
Judge  an  insulting  message,  by  the  hands  of  a  colored  "  boy  " 
belonging  to  Drummond.  The  boy  was  sent  back  with  a 
raw  hide,  and  instructions  to  "  lay  on  "  the  same  to  the  back 
of  the  Israelite,  which  CutFy  obeyed  with  much  spirit.  Com- 
plaint was  made  by  the  Jew  to  a  local  magistrate.  A  war- 
rant was  issued,  and  Drummond  and  his  negro  were  both 
arrested. 

The  result  of  this  emeute  was  a  sort  of  compromise,  in 
which  it  was  understood  that  the  Judge  should  not  interfere 
with  the  probate  courts,  aiad  he  was  set  at  liberty. 

After  adjourning  his  court  at  Fillmore,  Drummond  located 
in  Utah  County  in  the  winter  of  1856.  The  following  sum- 
mer he  went  to  Carson  to  hold  court  for  Judge  Stiles.  Thence 
he  proceeded  to  California  and  to  the  States,  and  as  the  Mor- 
mons allege  "  contributed  largely  to  the  getting  up  of  Bu- 
chanan's crusade." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

POLITICAL  HISTORY   CONTINUED.  — THE  MORMON  WAR. 

Report  of  the  Secretary  of  War.  —  Proclamation  of  Gov.  Brigham  Youug 
declaring  JIartial  Law.  —  Correspondence.  —  Sermons  of  Young  and 
Kimball.  —  Proclamation  of  Gov.  Gumming.  —  His  Echo  Canyon  Ad- 
ventures.—  Col.  Kane.  —  The  Mormons  leave  Salt  Lake.  —  Commis- 
sioners appointed  by  the  President.  —  Peace  restored. 

By  these  and  similar  outrages  the  Mormons  had  succeeded 
in  ridding  themselves  of  all  the  federal  authorities,  and 
were  really  in  open  rebellion  against  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment. 

As  Congress  was  not  in  session,  the  matter  was  taken  in 
hand  by  Floyd,  Secretary  of  AVar,  and  President  Buchanan. 

After  due  consultation  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  appoint 
new  men  to  all  the  civil  offices  of  the  Territory,  and  to  ac- 
company them  with  a  military  force  sufficient  for  their  pro- 
tection and  the  enforcement  of  the  laws.  Accordingl}'^,  Pres- 
ident Buchanan,  during  the  summer  of  1857,  made  the  fol- 
lowing appointments  for  Utah :  —  Governor,  A.  Cumming ; 
Chief  Justice,  D.  R.  Eckels ;  Associate  Justices,  John  Cra- 
dlebaugh  and  Charles  E.  Sinclair;  Secretary,  John  Hart- 
nett. 

An  army  of  about  3000  men  was  armed  and  equipped, 
and  ordered  to  march  for  Utah,  early  in  the  fall  of  1857. 

Brevet  Brigadier-General  W.  S.  Harney  was  originally 
named  as  commander  of  this  force,  but  it  was  subsequently 
deemed  inadvisable  to  detach  that  officer  from  the  special 
duties  of  his  department  in  Kansas,  and  the  troops  sent  to 
Utah  were  placed  under  the  orders  of  Col.  A.  S.  Johnson. 


THE  MORMON  WAR.  51 

The  Secretary  of  War,  in  his  report,  dated  December  5, 
1857,  says  :  — 

"  The  Territory  of  Utah  is  peopled  almost  exclusively  by  the 
religious  sect  known  as  Mormons.  .  .  .  They  have  substituted 
for  the  laws  of  the  land  a  theocracy,  having  for  its  head  an  indi- 
vidual whom  they  profess  to  believe  a  prophet  of  God. 

"  This  Prophet  demands  obedience,  and  receives  it  implicitly 
from  his  peojile,  in  virtue  of  what  he  assures  them  to  be  authority 
derived  from  revelations  received  by  him  from  Heaven.  When- 
ever he  finds  it  convenient  to  exercise  any  special  command,  these 
opportune  revelations  of  a  higher  law  come  to  his  aid.  From 
his  decrees  there  is  no  appeal ;  against  his  will  there  is  no  resist- 
ance.    .     .     . 

"  From  the  first  hour  they  fixed  themselves  in  that  remote  and 
almost  inaccessible  region  of  our  territory,  from  which  they  are 
now  sending  defiance  to  the  sovereign  power,  their  whole  plan  has 
been  to  prepare  lor  a  successful  secession  from  the  authority  of  the 
United  States,  and  a  permanent  establishment  of  their  own.    .    .    . 

"  This  Mormon  brotherhood  has  scarcely  preserved  the  sem- 
blance of  obedience  to  the  authority  of  the  United  States  for 
some  years  past ;  not  at  all  indeed,  except  as  it  might  confer  some 
dii'ect  benefit  upon  themselves,  or  contribute  to  circulate  public 
money  in  their  community.  ...  I  need  not  here  recite  the  many 
instances  in  their  conduct  and  history  on  which  these  general 
allegations  are  founded,  especially  the  conduct  they  have  adopted 
within  the  last  twelve  months  towards  the  civil  authorities  of  the 
United  States. 

"  It  has,  nevertheless,  always  been  the  policy  and  desire  of  the 
Federal  Government  to  avoid  collision  with  this  Mormon  commu- 
nity. It  has  borne  with  the  insubordination  they  have  exhibited, 
under  circumstances  when  respect  for  its  own  authority  has  fre- 
quently counselled  harsh  measures  of  discipline.  And  this  forbear- 
ance might  still  be  prolonged,  and  the  evils  rife  among  them  be  al- 
lowed to  work  out  their  own  cure,  if  this  community  occupied  any 
other  theatre,  isolated  and  remote  from  the  seats  of  civilization, 
than  the  one  they  now  possess. 

"  But,  unfortunately  for  these  views,  their  settlements  lie  in  the 
great  pathway  which  leads  from  the  Atlantic  States  to  the  new 
and  flourishing  communities  growing  up  upon  the  Pacific  seaboard. 


62  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

They  stand  a  lion  in  the  path ;  not  only  themselves  defying  the 
civil  and  military  authorities  of  the  government,  but  encouraging, 
if  not  exciting,  the  nomad  savages  who  roam  over  the  vast,  unoc- 
cupied regions  of  the  continent,  to  the  pillage  and  massacre  of 
peaceful  and  helpless  emigrant  fomilies  traversing  the  solitudes  of 
the  wilderness.  The  rapid  settlement  of  om-  Pacific  possessions ; 
the  rights,  in  those  regions,  of  emigrants,  unable  to  afford  the 
heavy  expenses  of  transit  by  water  and  the  Isthmus ;  the  facility 
and  safety  of  military,  political,  and  social  intercommunication 
between  our  eastern  and  western  populations  and  States,  —  all  de- 
pend upon  the  prompt,  absolute,  and  thorough  removal  of  a  hostile 
power  besetting  this  path,  midway  of  its  route,  at  a  point  where 
succor  and  provisions  should  always  be  found,  rather  than  obstruc- 
tion, pi'ivation,  and  outrage.     .     .     . 

"  From  all  the  circumstances  surrounding  this  subject  at  the 
time,  it  was  thought  expedient,  during  the  past  summer,  to  send 
a  body  of  troojos  to  Utah,  with  the  civil  officers  recently  appointed 
to  that  Territory.  .  .  .  Great  care  has  been  taken,  in  preparing  for 
the  march  to  Utah,  that  nothing  should  seem  to  excite  apprehen- 
sion of  any  action  on  the  part  of  the  army  in  the  least  conflict- 
ing with  the  fixed  principle  of  our  institutions,  by  whicli  the  mil- 
itary is  strictly  subordinate  to  the  civil  authority.  The  instruo 
tions  of  the  commanding  officer  were  deliberately  considered,  and 
carefully  drawn,  and  he  was  charged  not  to  allow  any  conflict  to 
take  place  between  the  troops  and  the  people  of  the  Temtory, 
except  only  in  case  he  should  be  called  upon  by  tlie  Governor  lor 
soldiers  to  act  as  a  posse  cumUatus  in  enforcing  obedience  to  the 
laws. 

"  In  conformity  with  this  sentiment,  and  to  assure  these  people 
of  the  real  intention  of  the  movement,  an  active,  discreet  officer 
was  sent  in  advance  of  the  army  to  Utah,  for  the  purpose  of  pur- 
chasing provisions  for  it,  and  of  assuring  the  people  of  the  Terri- 
tory of  the  peaceful  intentions  of  the  Government.  This  officer 
found,  upon  entering  tlie  Territory,  that  these  deluded  jjcople  had 
already,  in  advance  of  his  arrival,  or  of  any  information,  except 
as  to  the  march  of  the  column,  determined  to  resist  their  approach, 
and  prevent,  if  possible,  and  by  force,  the  entrance  of  the  army 
into  the  Valley  of  Salt  Lake.  Supplies  of  every  sort  were  refused 
him.  * 

"  The  day  after  his  departure  from  the  city,  on  his  way  back , 


THE  MORMON  WAR.  53 

Brigbam  issued  his  Proclamation,  substantially  declaring  war 
against  the  United  States,  and  at  the  same  time  putting  the  Terri- 
tory under  martial  law." 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  this  celebrated  document:  — 

"PROCLAMATION 

"  Of  Governor  Brigham  Youxg. 

"  Citizens  of  Utah,  —  We  are  invaded  by  a  hostile  force,  who 
are  evidently  assailing  us  to  accomplish  our  overthrow  and  destruc- 
tion. For  the  last  twenty-five  years  we  have  trusted  ofBcials  of 
the  Government,  from  constables  and  justices,  to  judges,  govern- 
ors, and  presidents,  only  to  be  scorned,  held  in  derision,  insulted, 
and  betrayed.  Our  houses  have  been  plundered  and  then  burned, 
our  fields  laid  waste,  our  principal  men  butchered,  while  under 
the  pledged  faith  of  the  Government  for  their  safety ;  and  our 
families  driven  from  their  homes,  to  find  that  shelter  in  the  barren 
Avilderness,  and  that  protection  among  hostile  savages,  which  were 
denied  them  in  the  boasted  abodes  of  Christianity  and  civilization. 

"  The  Constitution  of  our  common  country  guarantees  unto  us 
all  that  we  do  now,  or  have  ever  claimed.  If  the  constitutional 
rights  Avhich  pertain  unto  us  as  American  citizens  were  extended 
to  Utah,  according  to  the  spirit  and  meaning  thereof,  and  fairly 
and  impartially  administered,  it  is  all  that  we  could  ask,  —  all 
that  we  have  ever  asked. 

"  Our  opponents  have  availed  themselves  of  prejudice  existing 
against  us,  because  of  our  religious  faith,  to  send  out  a  formidable 
host  to  accomplish  our  destruction.  We  have  had  no  privilege 
or  opportunity  of  defending  ourselves  from  the  false,  foul,  and 
unjust  aspersions  against  us,  before  the  nation. 

"  The  Government  has  not  condescended  to  cause  an  investi- 
gating committee,  or  other  persons,  to  be  sent  to  inquire  and  as- 
certain the  truth,  as  is  customary  in  such  cases.  We  know  those 
aspersions  to  be  false,  but  that  avails  us  nothing.  We  are  con- 
demned unheard,  and  forced  to  an  issue  with  an  armed,  merce- 
nary mob,  which  has  been  sent  against  us  at  the  instigation  of 
anonymous  letter-writers,  ashamed  to  father  the  base,  slanderous 
falsehoods  which  they  have  given  to  the  public ;  of  corrupt  offi- 
2ials,  who  have  brought  false  accusations  against  us,  to  screen 
themselves  in  their  own  infamy ;  and  of  hirehng  priests  and  howl- 
ing editors,  who  prostitute  the  truth  for  filthy  lucre's  sake. 


54  rOLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

"  The  issue  wLich  Las  thus  been  forced  upon  us  compels  us  to 
resort  to  the  first  great  law  of  self-preservation,  and  stand  in  our 
own  self-defence,  —  a  right  guaranteed  to  us  by  the  genius  of  the 
institutions  of  our  country,  and  upon  which  the  Government  is 
based.  Our  duty  to  ourselves  —  to  our  families  —  requires  us  not 
to  tamely  submit  to  be  driven  and  slain,  without  an  attempt  to 
preserve  ourselves.  Our  duty  to  our  country  —  our  holy  religion 
—  our  God  —  to  freedom  and  liberty,  requires  that  we  should  not 
quietly  stand  still,  and  see  those  fetters  forging  around  us,  which 
arc  calculated  to  enslave  and  bring  us  in  subjection  to  an  unlaw- 
ful military  despotism,  such  as  can  only  emanate,  in  a  country  of 
constitutional  law,  from  usurpation,  tyranny,  and  oppression. 

"  Therefore,  I,  Brigham  Young,  Governor  and  Superintendent 
of  Indian  Affairs  for  the  Territory  of  Utah,  in  the  name  of  the 
people  of  the  United  States  in  the  Territory  of  Utah,  forbid,  — 

"  First.  All  armed  forces,  of  whatever  description,  from  coming 
into  this  Territory,  under  any  pretence  whatever. 

"  Second.  That  all  the  forces  in  said  Territory  hold  themselves 
in  readiness  to  march  at  a  moment's  notice,  to  repel  any  and  all 
such  invasion. 

"  Third.  Martial  law  is  hereby  declared  to  exist  in  this  Terri- 
tory, from  and  after  the  publication  of  this  proclamation  ;  and  no 
person  shall  be  allowed  to  pass  or  repass,  into,  or  through,  or  from 
this  Territory,  without  a  permit  from  the  proper  officer. 

"  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal,  at  Great  Salt  Lake  City, 
Territory  of  Utah,  this  fifteenth  day  of  September,  A.  D.  eighteen 
hundred  and  fifty-seven,  and  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
States  of  America  the  eighty-second. 

"  Brigham  Young." 

This  proclamation  was  forwarded  to  the  commander  of 
the  Unitej^  States  forces,  then  on  the  Plains.  It  was  accom- 
panied by  the  following  letter  :  — 

"  Fort  Bridger,  September  3, 1857. 

"Sir,  —  I  have  the  honor  to  forward  you  the  accompanying 
letter  from  his  Excellency  Governor  Young,  together  with  two 
copies  of  his  proclamation,  and  a  copy  of  the  Laws  of  Utah,  185, 
chap.  7,  containing  the  Organic  Act  of  the  Territory. 

"  It  may  be  proper  to  add,  tliat  I  am  here  to  aid  in  carrying  out 
the  instructions  of  Governor  Younjr.     General  Robinson  will  de- 


THE  MORj\ION  WAR.  55 

liver  these  papers  to  you,  and  receive  such  communication  as  you 
may  •wish  to  make. 

"  Trusting  that  your  answer  and  action  will  be  dictated  by  a 
proper  respect  for  the  rights  and  liberties  of  American  citizens, 
I  remain, 

"  Very  respectfully, 

"  Daniel  H.  Weli,s, 
"  Lieut.-General  commanding  Nauvoo  Legion." 


"  Goveenoe's  Office,  Utah  Terbitoey, 

Great  Salt  Lake  City,  September  29, 1857. 
"  Sir,  —  By  reference  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  passed  Septem- 
ber 9,   1850,  organizing  the   Territory  of  Utah,  published  in  a 
copy  of  the  Laws  of  Utah,  herewith,  p.  146,  chap.  7,  you  will  find 
the  following :  — 

"  '  Sec.  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  the  executive  power 
in  and  over  said  Territory  of  Utah  shall  be  vested  in  a  governor, 
who  shall  hold  his  office  for  four  years,  and  until  his  successor  shall 
be  appointed  and  qualified,  unless  sooner  removed  by  the  President 
of  the  United  States.  The  governor  shall  reside  within  said  Ter- 
ritor}',  shall  be  commander-in-chief  of  the  militia  thereof,'  &c.,  &c. 

"  I  am  still  the  Governor  and  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs 
for  this  Territory,  no  successor  having  been  appointed  and  quali- 
fied, as  provided  by  law,  nor'*  have  I  been  removed  by  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States. 

"  By  virtue  of  the  authority  thus  vested  in  me,  I  have  issued 
and  forwarded  you  a  copy  of  my  proclamation,  forbidding  the 
entrance  of  armed  forces  into  this  Territory.  This  you  have  dis- 
regarded. I  now  further  direct  that  you  retire  forthwith  from  the 
Territory  by  the  same  route  you  entered.  Should  you  deem  this 
impracticable,  and  prefer  to  remain  until  spring  in  the  vicinity  of 
your  present  encampment.  Black  Fork,  or  Green  River,  you  can 
do  so  in  peace,  and  unmolested,  on  condition  that  you  deposit  your 
arms  and  ammunition  with  Lewis  Robinson,  Quartermaster-Gen- 
eral of  the  Territory,  and  leave  in  the  spring,  as  soon  as  the  con- 
dition of  the  roads  will  permit  you  to  march.  And  should  you  fall 
short  of  provisions,  they  can  be  furnished  you  by  making  the 
proper  applications  therefor. 


56  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

"  Gen.  D.  II.  Wells  will  forward  this,  and  receive  any  commu- 
nications you  may  have  to  make. 

"  Very  respectfully, 

"Brigham  Young, 
"  Governor  and  Superintendent  of 

Indian  Affairs,  Utah  Territory 
"  To  the  Officer  commanding  the  Forces 
now  invading  Utah  Tcmtory." 

The  legitimate  result  of  this  violent  and  treasonable  proc- 
lamation, as  might  be  supposed,  was  to  incite  the  people  to 
revenge  and  bloodshed.  Every  man  who  could  bear  arms 
was  at  once  taken  from  his  usual  avocation  and  trained  in 
the  art  of  war.  Clothing  was  at  this  time  very  scarce,  as 
no  trains  of  goods  had  arrived  from  the  States.  The  "  sis- 
ters" were  called  upon  to  make  up  every  article  which  they 
could  possibly  spare  into  uniforms  for  the  troops.  Accord- 
ingly the  "  brethren "  appeared  arrayed  in  pieces  of  bed- 
quilts,  carpets,  and  old  clo'  made  over,  and  presented  to  the 
eye  as  motley  and  miserable  a  crew  as  those  of  "  the  right 
valiant  Sir  John  FalstafF."  If  we  look  at  the  leaders  of  these 
classical  armies,  however,  the  parallel  fails.  The  chivalric 
Jack  had  at  least  the  courage  to  march  at  the  head  of  his 
soldiers ;  while  Brigham,  who  acknowledges  himself  to  be  a 
natural  coward,  preferred  to  remain  snugly  ensconced  among 
his  numerous  wives  and  children.  The  Lion  of  the  Lord, 
though  seemingly  aroused,  only  shook  himself  and  roared 
loudly  several  times.  He  then  quietly  lay  down,  and  re- 
mained thenceforth  couchant  during  the  war.  With  all  the 
assurance  and  assumption  of  Joseph  Smith,  he  lacked  his 
personal  courage  and  manly  daring. 

But  the  rank  and  file  of  these  "  warriors  of  the  Lord  " 
lacked  neither  courage  nor  enthusiasm.  Their  Zion  was 
threatened,  —  their  institutions  in  danger,  —  and  with  the 
fire  of  revenge  burning  in  their  hearts,  at  the  remembrance 
of  former  injuries,  they  rushed  forth,  to  conquer  or  to  die. 

Many  joined  their  brethren  in  Echo  Canyon,  without  even 


THE  MORMON  WAR.  57 

shoes  to  their  feet,  wading  through  snows  several  feet  deep. 
Such  devotion  and  hei'oism  were  worthy  of  a  better  cause. 

Tlie  feehng  and  determination  of  the  people  cannot  be 
better  expressed  than  by  extracts  from  the  sermons  of  their 
leaders  at  this  critical  period. 

Sunday  morning,  September  16, 1857,  Brigham  Young,  in 

his  public  discourse,  said  :  — 

* 

"  This  people  are  free ;  they  are  not  in  bondage  to  any  govern- 
ment on  God's  footstool.  We  have  transgi-essed  no  law,  and  we 
have  no  occasion  to  do  so,  neither  do  we  intend ;  but  as  for  any 
nation's  coming  to  destroy  this  people,  God  Almighty  being  my 
helper,  they  cannot  come  here.  [The  congregation  responded  a 
loud  '  Amen.']      .     .     . 

"  We  have  borne  enough  of  their  oppression  and  hellish  abuse, 
and  we  will  not  bear  any  more  of  it,  for  there  is  no  just  law  re- 
quiring further  forbearance  on  our  pai't.  And  I  am  not  going  to 
have  troops  here  to  protect  the  priests  and  hellish  rabble  in  efibrts 
to  drive  us  from  the  land  we  possess  ;  for  the  Lord  does  not  want 
us  to  be  driven,  and  has  said,  '  If  you  will  assert  your  rights,  and 
keep  my  commandments,  you  shall  never  again  be  brought  into 
bondage  by  your  enemies.'     .     .     • 

"  They  say  that  their  army  is  legal ;  and  I  say  that  such  a  state- 
ment is  as  false  as  hell,  and  that  they  are  as  rotten  as  an  old 
pumpkin  that  has  been  frozen  seven  times,  and  then  melted  in  a 
harvest  sun.  Come  on  with  your  thousands  of  illegally  ordered 
troops,  and  I  will  promise  you,  in  the  name  of  Israel's  God,  that 
you  shall  melt  away  as  the  snow  before  a  July  sun.     .     ,     . 

"  You  might  as  well  tell  me  that  you  can  make  hell  into  a  pow- 
der-house, as  to  tell  me  that  you  could  let  an  army  in  here,  and 
have  peace ;  and  I  intend  to  tell  them,  and  show  them  this,  if  they 
do  not  stay  away.  .  .  .  And  I  say  our  enemies  shall  not  shp 
the  bow  on  old  '  Bright's  neck '  again.     God  bless  you.     Amen." 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  the  "  lion  "  again  roars,  as 
follows :  — 

"  There  cannot  be  a  more  damnable,  dastardly  order  issued, 
than  was  issued  by  the  Administration  to  this  people,  while  they 
were  in  an  Indian  country  in  1846.  Before  we  left  Nauvoo,  not 
less  than  two  United  States  Senators  came  to  receive  a  pledge 


58  rOLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

from  us  that  we  would  leave  tlie  United  States ;  and  then,  while 
■we  were  doing  our  best  to  leave  their  borders,  the  poor,  low,  de- 
graded curses  sent  a  requisition  for  five  hundred  men  to  go  and 
fight  tlieir  battles !  That  was  President  Polk  ;  and  he  is  now 
weltering  in  hell,  with  old  Zachary  Taylor,  where  the  present 
Administration  will  soon  be,  if  they  do  not  repent. 

"  Liars  have  reported  that  this  people  have  committed  treason, 
and  upon  their  lies  the  President  has  ordered  out  troops  to  aid  in 
ofiicering  this  Territory ;  and  if  those  officers  are  like  many  who 
have  previously  been  sent  here,  —  and  we  have  reason  to  believe 
that  they  are,  or  they  would  not  come  where  they  know  they  are 
not  wanted,  —  they  are  poor,  miserable  blacklegs,  broken  down 
political  hacks,  robbers  and  whoremongers ;  men  that  are  not  fit 
for  civilized  society  ;  so  they  must  dragoon  them  upon  us  for  offi- 
cers. I  feel  that  I  won't  bear  such  cursed  treatment,  and  that  is 
enough  to  say,  —  for  we  are  just  as  free  as  the  mountain  air.  .  . 

"  I  have  told  you  that  if  this  people  will  live  their  religion,  all 
will  be  well ;  and  I  have  told  you  that  if  there  is  any  man  or 
woman  who  is  not  willing  to  destroy  anything  or  everything  of 
their  property  that  would  be  of  use  to  an  enemy  if  left,  I  wanted 
them  to  go  out  of  the  Territory.  And  I  again  say  so  to-day  ;  for 
when  the  time  comes  to  burn  and  lay  waste  our  improvements,  if 
any  man  undertakes  to  shield  his,  he  will  be  sheared  down ;  for 
'judgment  will  be  laid  to  the  line,  and  righteousness  to  the 
plummet.' 

"  Now,  the  faint-hearted  can  go  in  peace ;  but  should  that  time 
come,  they  must  not  interfere.  Before  I  will  suffer  what  I  have 
in  times  gone  by,  there  shall  not  be  one  building,  nor  one  foot  of 
lumber,  nor  a  stick,  nor  a  tree,  nor  a  particle  of  grass  or  hay  that 
will  burn,  left  in  reach  of  our  enemies.  I  am  sworn,  if  driven  to 
extremity,  to  utterly  lay  waste,  in  the  name  of  Israel's  God." 

On  the  same  subject,  Heber  C.  Kimball,  first  counsellor  to 
Brigham,  used  the  following  language :  — 

"  Is  there  a  collision  between  us  and  the  United  States  ?  No  ; 
we  have  not  collashed ;  that  is  the  word  that  sounds  nearest  to 
what  I  mean.  But  now  the  thread  is  cut  between  them  and  us, 
and  we  will  never  gybe  again,  —  no,  never,  worlds  without  end. 
[Voices,  '  Amen.']     .     .     . 

"  Do  as  you  are  told,  and  Brigham  Young  will  never  leave  the 


THE  MORMON  WAR.  59 

governorship  of  tliis  Territory,  from  this  time  henceforth  and  for- 
ever.    No,  never.     And   there  shall  no  wicked  Judge  with  his 

w ever  sit  in  our  courts  again ;  for  all  who  are  against  Israel 

are  an  abomination  to  me  and  to  our  God. 

"  The  spirit  that  is  upon  me  this  morning  is  the  Spirit  of  the 
liord,  that  is,  the  Holy  Ghost,  —  though  some  of  you  may  think 
that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  never  cheerful.  Well,  let  me  tell  you,  the 
Holy  Ghost  is  a  man ;  he  is  one  of  the  sons  of  our  Father  and  our 
God,  and  he  is  that  man  that  stood  next  to  Jesus  Christ,  — just  as 
I  stand  by  brother  Brigham.  .  .  .  You  think  our  Father  and 
our  God  is  not  a  lively,  sociable,  and  cheerful  man ;  he  is  one  of 
the  most  lively  men  that  ever  lived.  .  .  .  Brother  Brigham 
is  my  leader,  he  is  my  Prophet  and  my  Seer,  my  Revelator ;  and 
•whatever  he  says,  that  is  for  me  to  do,  and  it  is  not  for  me  to 
question  him  one  word,  nor  to  question  God  a  minute."  * 

Many  sermons  were  delivered,  composed,  throughout,  of 
such  material  as  the  foregoing  extracts.  The  genius  of 
Mormonism  is  here  fully  displayed,  —  implicit  obedience  to 
their  leaders,  and  especially  to  the  teachings  of  Brigham 
Young.  The  people  were  commanded  to  be  ready  to  leave 
their  homes  at  an  hour's  notice,  and  flee  to  the  mountains, — 
and  this  too,  as  the  snows  of  winter  were  falling  around  them. 
They  were  commanded  to  have  the  torch  ready  to  set  fire  to 
their  dwellings,  and  the  axe  to  cut  down  all  their  fruit-trees  ; 
and  they  were  ready  to  obey !  The  question  naturally  pre- 
sents itself.  Can  blind  faith  and  fanaticism  thus  lead  and  con- 
trol a  whole  community?  That  some  should  be  thus  blindly 
infatuated,  is  not  strange ;  but  that  a  whole  community  should 
thus  lose  their  reason,  and  be  willing  to  beggar  themselves 
and  families,  in  obedience  to  the  call  of  their  leader,  is  almost 
beyond  belief. 

It  is  safe  to  say,  had  the  Mormons  been  left  free  to  choose, 
at  least  one  half  would  have  remained  at  home,  and  even 
welcomed  the  troops  into  the  city. 

But  the  fiat  of  despotism  had  gone  forth.  "  When  the 
time  comes  to  burn  and  lay  waste  our  improvements,  if  any 
*  Deseret  News,  November  18, 1857. 


GO  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

man  undertakes  to  shield  his,  he  will  be  sheared  down ;  for 
'judgment  will  be  laid  to  the  line,  and  righteousness  to  the 
plummet.'  "  This  means,  in  plain  English,  that  any  man  who 
refused  to  obey  Young  should  be  put  to  death ;  and  the  peo- 
ple well  understood  it.  As  it  was  certain  death  to  resist  his 
will,  they  vied  with  each  other  in  seeming  to  render  a  willing 
obedience  to  a  tyrant  whom  many  hated,  and  all  feared. 

They  fortified  Echo  Canyon,  a  narrow  pass,  about  eighteen 
miles  in  length,  eastward  from  the  city.  Files  of  huge  stones 
were  heaped  up  along  the  borders  of  the  precipices,  ready  to 
be  dashed  against  the  troops,  as  they  should  essay  to  pass 
the  gorge.  Intrenchments  were  thrown  up,  and  such  other 
warlilie  preparations  made  as  their  facilities  afforded. 

The  United  States  troops  had  entered  the  Territory  of 
Utah,  and  were  encamped  in  Green  River  County,  near  Fort 
Bridger,  a  distance  of  118  miles  from  Salt  Lake  City.  From 
this  place  Governor  Cumming  issued  the  following  procla- 
mation :  — 

"  Green  Eiver  County,  near  Fort  Bridger,  ) 
Utah  Tekkitoky,  21st  November,  1857. ) 

"  To  the  People  of  Utah  Territory :  — 

"  On  the  11th  day  of  July,  1857,  the  President  appointed  me 
to  preside  over  the  executive  department  of  the  government  of 
this  Territory.  I  arrived  at  this  point  on  the  17th  of  this  month, 
and  shall  probably  be  detained  some  time,  in  consequence  of  the 
loss  of  animals  during  the  recent  snow-storm.  I  will  proceed  at 
this  point  to  make  the  preliminary  arrangements  for  the  tempo- 
rary organization  of  the  territorial  government.  Many  treasona- 
ble acts  of  violence  have  recently  been  committed  by  lawless  indi- 
viduals, supposed  to  have  been  commanded  by  the  late  executive. 
Such  persons  are  in  a  state  of  rebellion. 

"Proceedings  will  be  instituted  against  them  in  a  court  organ- 
ized by  Chief  Justice  Eckels,  held  in  this  county,  which  court  will 
supersede  the  necessity  of  appointing  military  commissions  for  the 
trial  of  such  oifenders. 

"  It  is  my  duty  to  enforce  unconditional  obedience  to  the  Con- 
stitution, and  the  organic  law  of  this  Territory,  and  to  all  the  other 
laws  of  Congress  applicable  to  you. 


THE  MORMON  TTAR.  61 

"  To  enable  me  to  effect  this  object,  I  will,  in  the  event  of  re- 
sistance, rel}'  first  upon  a,  j^osse  comitalus  of  the  well-disposed  por- 
tion of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Territory,  and  will  only  resort  to  a 
military  posse  in  case  of  necessity.  I  trnst  this  necessity  will  not 
occur.  I  have  come  among  you  with  no  prejudices  or  enmities ; 
and  by  the  exercise  of  a  just  and  firm  administration  I  hope  to 
command  your  confidence. 

"  Freedom  of  conscience,  and  the  use  of  your  own  peculiar 
mode  of  serving  God,  are  sacred  rights,  the  exercise  of  which  is 
guaranteed  by  the  Constitution,  and  with  which  it  is  not  the  prov- 
ince of  the  Government  or  the  disposition  of  its  representatives  in 
this  Territory  to  interfere.  In  virtue  of  my  authority  as  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  military  of  this  Territory,  I  hereby  com- 
mand all  armed  bodies  of  individuals,  by  whomsoever  organized, 
to  disband,  and  return  to  their  respective  homes. 

"  The  penalty  of  disobedience  to  this  command  will  subject  the 
offenders  to  the  punishment  due  to  traitors. 

"  A.  Gumming, 
"  Governor  of  Utah  Territory." 

During  this  time  the  Mormon  troops  were  busy  stealing 
stock,  burning  supply-trains,  and  in  every  way  weakening 
and  embarrassing  the  United  States  forces.  Being  familiar 
with  the  country,  they  had  greatly  the  advantage ;  and  covild 
break  suddenly  upon  a  herding  party,  from  some  side  can- 
yon, capture  their  stock,  and  before  the  alarm  could  be  given, 
be  safely  ensconced  in  their  own  quarters.  Much  valuable 
stock  was  acquired  in  this  way. 

"  Forts  Bridger  and  Supply  were  vacated  and  burned  down. 
Orders  were  issued  by  Daniel  H.  Wells  (Lieut.-General  Nauvoo 
Legion,)  to  stampede  the  animals  of  the  United  States  troops  on 
their  march,  to  set  fire  to  their  trains,  to  burn  the  grass  and  the 
whole  country  before  them  and  on  their  flanks,  to  keep  them 
from  sleeping  by  night  surprises,  and  to  block  the  roads  by  felling 
trees,  and  destroying  the  fords  of  rivers. 

"  On  the  4th  of  October,  1857,  the  Mormons,  under  Capt.  Lot 
Smith,  captured  and  burned,  on  Green  Kiver,  three  of  our  supply 
Lrains,  consisting  of  seventy-five  wagons,  loaded  with  provisions  and 
tents  for  the  army,  and  carried  away  several  hundred  animals." 


62  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

Late  in  the  fall  of  1857  "the  Army  of  Utah"  arrived  at 
Lridger,  and  made  an  encampment,  which  was  called  Camp 
Scott. 

As  the  winter  was  severe,  and  the  snow  very  deep,  little 
progress  was  made  by  the  army  in  quelling  the  l^l'ormon  re- 
bellion, while  much  suffering  was  endured  by  the  soldiers. 
Some  time  during  the  winter  of  1857-58  Col.  Kane  set  out 
for  Utah,  to  ascertain,  if  possible,  the  exact  state  of  affairs 
in  that  Territory.  He  was  not  sent  as  the  agent  of  the  Gov- 
ernment, as  is  generally  supposed,  but  his  mission  was  ap- 
proved by  President  Buchanan,  and  the  War  Department. 
He  went  incognito,  and  by  the  southern  route,  and  arrived  in 
Utah  in  the  month  of  January.  He  was  accompanied  by  a 
servant  only,  and  while  on  the  desert  to  the  south  of  Salt 
Lake  City,  was  taken  sick,  and  came  near  losing  his  life. 
Amasa  Lyman  and  others  were  out  exploring,  w'ith  a  view 
of  ascertaining  whether  the  Mormons  could  be  attacked 
from  the  south.  They  found  Col.  Kane  and  his  man  on  the 
desert.  Lyraan  took  him  into  his  carriage,  "  laid  hands  on 
him,  and  administered  unto  him."  Kane  still  remained  un- 
known to  him,  but  told  him  that  he  had  business  of  impor- 
tance to  transact  at  Salt  Lake,  —  important  both  to  the  Mor- 
mons and  to  the  nation.  He  was  immediately  taken  to  Salt 
Lake,  where,  for  the  first  time,  he  made  known  his  business 
and  his  name. 

Brigham  was  agreeably  surprised  to  find  an  old  friend  and 
quasi  Mormon  in  his  guest,  and  of  course  treated  him  with 
the  greatest  consideration.  It  was  well  understood  at  Salt 
Lake  that  Col.  Kane  was  baptized  by  the  Elders  some  years 
before,  while  on  a  tour  of  exploration  to  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains.* How  much  of  Mormonism  he  imbibed  is  not  known, 
but  certain  it  is,  that  the  saints  rely  on  his  aid  and  influence, 
under  all  circumstances. 

*  John  Hyde,  Jr.,  in  his  work  on  Jlormonism,  page  146,  says:  "Fill- 
more, by  the  advice  and  intercession  of  Col.  Kane,  who  hnd  embraced Mor- 
tnonism  in  Iowa,  appointed  Brigham  as  the  Governor  of  Utah." 


THE  MORMON  WAR.  63 

The  negotiations  were  of  the  most  friendly  character,  and 
Kane  proceeded  soon  after,  in  his  character  as  pacificator,  to 
the  "  Head-quarters  of  the  Army  of  Utah,"  at  Fort  Bridger. 
He  was  escorted  by  Porter  Rockwell  and  Daniel  Kimball 
past  the  limits  of  the  Mormon  camp.  He  held  interviews 
with  the  officers  of  the  army  and  with  Governor  Gumming, 
and  succeeded  in  inducing  the  Governor  to  accompany  him 
to  Salt  Lake. 

Of  this  journey  Governor  Gumming  says:  — 

"  I  left  camp  on  the  5tb,  en  route  for  this  city,  accompanied  by 
Col.  Kane,  as  guide,  and  two  servants.  ...  I  was  escorted 
from  Bear  River  Valley  to  the  western  end  of  Echo  Canyon,  —  the 
journey  through  the  canyon  being  performed,  for  the  most  part, 
in  the  night ;  it  was  about  eleven  o'clock  when  I  arrived  at  Weber 
Station. 

"  I  have  been  everywhere  recognized  as  the  Governor  of  Utah, 
and,  so  far  from  having  encountered  insults  and  indignities,  I  am 
gratified  in  being  able  to  state  that,  in  passing  through  the  settle- 
ments, I  have  been  universally  greeted  with  such  respectful  atten- 
tions as  are  due  to  the  representative  of  the  executive  authority 
of  the  United  States.     .     .     . 

"  When  it  was  arranged  with  the  Mormon  officer  In  command 
of  my  escort  that  I  should  pass  through  Echo  Canyon  In  the 
night,  I  inferred  that  it  was  with  the  object  of  concealing  the  bar- 
ricades and  other  defences.  I  was  therefore  agreeably  surprised 
by  an  illumination  in  honor  to  me.  The  bonfires  kindled  by  the 
soldiers,  from  the  base  to  the  summit  of  the  hills,  completely  illu- 
minated the  valley,  and  disclosed  the  snow-covered  mountains 
which  surrounded  us." 

The  following  is  the  Mormon  account  of  the  entrie  of 
Governor  Gumming  into  the  Valley  of  Salt  Lake,  and  may 
go  to  explain  to  him  why  the  journey  was  made  through 
Echo  Canyon  in  the  night. 

Upon  entering  the  Mormon  lines  they  were  rejoined  by 
Rockwell  and  Kimball,  who  commanded  the  Governor's 
escort  to  Salt  Lake  City.  Echo  Canyon  is  a  narrow  pass, 
about  eighteen  miles  in  length,  and  commands  the  entrance 


64  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

to  Salt  Lake  Valley  from  the  east.  The  Mormons  had  for- 
tified this  canyon  at  several  points.  They  also  had  four 
camps,  or  places  of  rendezvous,  at  convenient  distances. 
Upon  arriving  at  Cache  Cave,  the  first  "  post,"  the  party  of 
the  Governor  came  to  a  halt.  His  Excellency  was  escorted 
into  camp  with  due  honor,  and  an  ox  was  slain  to  celebrate 
the  occasion.  After  partaking  of  a  sumptuous  repast,  the 
troops  were  ordered  out  for  the  Governor  to  review.  About 
150  men  were  "drawn  up,"  and  after  the  review,  the  Gov- 
ernor "  made  a  speech."  He  complimented  "  the  boys  "  on 
their  order,  discipline,  and  skill. 

Col.  Kimball  then  proceeded  to  read  various  orders  to  the 
troops.  Various  imaginary  companies  were  ordered  to  relieve 
various  other  imaginary  companies.  Several  new  posts  were 
ordered  to  be  established,  and  others  abandoned.  Meanwhile, 
the  Governor,  not  to  he  deceived,  was  noting  down  the  differ- 
ent companies  as  they  were  called.  This  done,  they  again 
took  the  road.  It  was  now  about  sundown  ;  and  as  they 
passed  the  stations,  the  troops  were  arranged  on  each  side  of 
the  road,  to  salute  the  Governor,  and  be  reviewed  by  him. 
Everything  passed  off"  smoothly  until  they  reached  the  third 
station,  when  it  suddenly  occurred  to  Col.  Kimball  that  the 
pickets  at  that  post  had  not  been  apprised  of  their  coming. 
He  remarked,  on  nearing  the  camp,  that  "  he  saw  no  pickets, 
and  he  guessed  the  boys  were  in  ambush."  He  therefore 
mounted  a  horse,  and  telling  the  driver  to  be  sure  and  "  halt " 
as  soon  as  he  heard  the  word,  rode  off.  In  a  moment  more, 
the  guard  shouted,  "  Halt !  who  goes  there  ?  "  —  and  before 
a  reply  could  be  given,  the  crack  of  a  rifle  was  heard.  The 
Governor,  trembling  with  fright,  cried  out,  "  I  am  your 
friend,  the  Governor  of  Utah  ;  don't  fire,  boys ;  for  God's 
sake,  don't  fire  ! "  "I  know  nothing  about  Governors,  nor 
anybody  else,"  replied  the  picket ;  "  I  must  do  my  duty. 
This  way,  Sergeant  of  the  Guard."  By  this  time  quite  a  com 
pany  rode  up,  and,  as  the  Governor  supposed,  he  was  about 
to  be  taken  prisoner.    Col.  Kimball  now  appeared,  explained 


THE  MORMON  WAR.  Q5 

the  whole  matter,  and  relieved  his  Excellency  from  his  em- 
barrassing position.  But  the  Governor  was  entirely  innocent 
of  the  joke,  and  believes,  to  this  day,  that  he  had  a  hair- 
breadth escape. 

They  then  passed  on  to  the  mouth  of  Echo  Canyon,  where 
the  troops  were  again  reviewed ;  and  as  the  party  bivouacked 
for  the  night,  hundreds  of  camp-fires  gleamed  along  the  rug- 
ged sides  of  the  canyon,  furnishing  incontestable  evidence  of 
the  great  number  of  the  Mormon  soldiers.  There  were  at 
this  time  about  150  men,  all  told,  in  the  canyon,  and  these  the 
Governor  had  reviewed  at  every  station. 

The  next  morning  the  Governor  proceeded  on  his  jour- 
ney, prepared  to  assert  that  the  Mormons  had  from  two  to 
three  thousand  men  under  arms  in  and  neai"  Echo  Canyon. 
When  the  company  arrived  at  Sessions,  ten  miles  from  Salt 
Lake  City,  they  were  met  by  a  large  concourse  of  citizen 
soldiery,  preceded  by  a  band  of  music,  accompanied  by  the 
roaring  of  cannon.  The  Echo  Canyon  boys  were  also  there, 
to  see  the  fun.  The  GoiSjernor  was  quite  bewildered  by  all 
this  parade,  and  made  up  his  mind  that  the  Mormons  were 
very  numerous,  and  both  ready  and  willing  to  "  wipe  out " 
the  handful  of  Government  soldiers,  whenever  they  could  get 
permission  from  their  leader. 

Upon  arriving  at  the  "  Holy  City,"  the  best  lodgings  and 
the  best  brandy  were  provided  for  his  Excellency.  Brigham 
called  in  due  time,  and  paid  his  compliments  ;  invited  Gov- 
ernor Cumming  to  his  office,  and  tendered  to  him  "  the  hos- 
pitalities of  the  city."  Governor  Cumming  was  delighted, 
and  in  a  few  days  called  at  the  office  of  Governor  Young. 
This  wily  personage  put  on  one  of  his  blandest  smiles,  re- 
signed his  office  of  Governor,  turned  over  the  papers  and 
documents  of  the  office  to  his  legal  successor,  and,  to  crown 
all,  produced  the  records  of  the  courts,  in  the  highest  state  of 
preservation. 

Governor  Cumming  was  perfectly  amazed.     "Was  it  possi- 
ble his  eyes  did  not  deceive  him?    Were  these  the  veritable 
5 


66  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

records  about  which  so  much  had  been  said  ?  They  were  ; 
and  the  Mormons  had  been  belied,  and  the  Government  de- 
ceived. He  immediately  wrote  to  the  President  and  to  Col. 
Johnson,  and  explained  how  matters  stood. 

The  gifted  and  accomplished  Col.  Kane  was  the  bearer  of 
these  documents  to  his  venerable  friend  James  Buchanan, 
who  read  with  delight  these  "  signs  of  repentance "  on  the 
part  of  his  dear  children,  and  immediately  commenced  writ- 
ing their  pai'don. 

It  has  been  supposed  by  many  that  Col.  Kane  was,  at 
that  time,  acting  as  the  agent  of  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment. But  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  to  hira,  writ- 
ten by  President  Buchanan,  dated  December  31,  1857,  will 
at  once  determine  the  position  which  the  Colonel  occupied :  — 

"  My  dear  Sir,  —  You  furnish  the  strongest  evidence  of 
your  desire  to  serve  the  Mormons,  by  abandoning  the  comforts  of 
friends,  family,  and  home,  and  voluntarily  encountering  the  perils 
and  dangers  of  a  journey  to  Utah,  at  the  present  inclement  season 
of  the  year,  at  your  own  expense,^and  without  official  position. 
.  .  .  Nothing  but  pure  philanthropy,  and  a  strong  desire  to 
serve  the  Mormon  people,  could  have  dictated  a  course  so  much 
at  war  with  your  private  interests." 

While  the  President  was  penning  his  proclamation  of  par- 
don, the  Mormons  were  leaving  their  property  and  homes, 
and  taking  up  their  line  of  march  for  the  South.  Governor 
Gumming  was  unable  to  control  the  movements  of  Col.  John- 
son, who  was  acting  under  instructions  from  the  Secretary  of 
War.  Hence  Gumming  could  not  save  to  Brigham,  however 
much  he  might  feel  disposed  to  do  so,  the  humiliation  of  see- 
ing the  streets  of  the  city  filled  with  the  federal  soldiers, 
against  whom  he  had  been  hurling  his  anathemas.  Finding 
this  catastrophe  could  not  possibly  be  averted,  he  promul- 
gated an  order,  purporting  to  emanate  from  the  Almighty, 
commanding  the  people  to  leave  their  homes  and  start  for  the 
South.  This  order  was  prompted  partly  by  the  fact  that  the 
''  President  of  the  Church  "  was  committed  to  this  course  by 


THE  MORMOX  WAR.  67 

his  repeated  declarations,  and  partly  by  the  wish  on  his  part 
to  test  his  power  over  "  this  people."  It  was  readily  and  im- 
plicitly obeyed  by  his  deluded  followers.  They  knew  not 
where  they  were  going.  Many  believed  they  were  destined 
for  Sonora.  They  only  knew  the  Prophet  of  the  Lord  had 
spoken,  and  they  must  obey. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  1858,  their  long  trains  moved  south- 
ward, taking  with  them  their  household  gods,  and  provisions 
for  the  journey.  Brigham,  Heber,  and  the  principal  men, 
also  removed  their  families  from  their  comfortable  homes, 
again  to  encounter  the  toils  and  privations  incident  to  life 
on  the  Plains.  They  went  to  Provo,  50  miles  from  the  city, 
and  there  halted.  The  snow  was  still  on  the  ground,  and  the 
pilgrims  suffered  much  from  the  inclemency  of  the  weather. 

On  the  12th  of  April,  Mr.  Buchanan  appointed  L.  W. 
Powell,  of  Kentucky,  and  Ben  McCulloch,  of  Texas,  Com- 
missioners to  Utah,  and  by  them  sent  on  his  proclamation  of 
pardon.  They  reached  Salt  Lake  on  the  7th  of  June,  and 
immediately  made  known  their  business  to  the  Mormon  au- 
thorities. They  were  instructed  to  say  to  the  Mormons,  in 
the  language  of  the  proclamation,  "  If  you  obey  the  laws, 
keep  the  peace,  and  respect  the  just  rights  of  others,  you  will 
be  perfectly  secure,  and  may  live  in  your  present  faith,  or 
change  it  for  another  at  your  pleasure.  Every  intelligent 
man  among  you  knows  very  well  that  the  Government  has 
never,  directly  or  indirectly,  sought  to  molest  you  in  your 
worship,  to  control  you  in  your  ecclesiastical  affairs,  or  even 
to  influence  you  in  your  religious  opinions." 

The  following  extracts  from  the  report  of  the  Commission- 
ers will  serve  to  show  the  result  of  their  mission  :  — 

"  We  stated  that  we  wished  a  free  conference  with  them,  and 
were  ready  to  hear  what  they  had  to  say.  Ex-Governor  Brigham 
Young,  Lieut.-Governor  Wells,  and  others,  spoke.  They  expressed 
their  gratification  that  the  President  had  sent  commissioners  to 
Utah.  They  stated  that  they  were  attached  to  the  Constitution 
and  the  Government  of  the  United  States ;  they  spoke  harshly  of 


68  POLITICAL  HISTORY  COXTIXUED. 

many  of  the  ofEcials  who  had  held  office  in  the  Territory ;  they 
Bpoke  of  the  wrongs  and  injuries  hitherto  done  them ;  they  said 
they  desired  to  live  in  peace,  under  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States.  They  denied  that  they  had  ever  driven  any  officials  from 
Utah,  or  prevented  any  civil  officer  from  entering  the  Territory. 
They  admitted  that  they  burned  the  army  trains,  and  drove  off  the 
cattle  from  the  army  last  fall,  and  for  that  act  they  accepted  the 
President's  pardon.  All  the  charges  that  had  been  made  against 
them,  except  the  one  last  named,  they  denied.  .  .  •  We  are 
pleased  to  state  that  the  conference  resulted  in  their  agreeing  to 
receive,  quietly  and  peaceably,  all  the  civil  officers  of  the  Govern- 
ment, and  not  to  resist  them  in  the  execution  of  the  duties  of  their 
offices ;  and  to  yield  obedience  to  the  authorities  and  laws  of  the 
United  States. 

"  That  they  would  offer  no  resistance  to  the  army ;  that  the 
officers  of  the  army  would  not  be  resisted  in  the  execution  of  their 
orders  within  the  Territory.  In  short,  they  agreed  that  the  offi- 
cers, civil  and  military,  of  the  United  States,  should  enter  the 
Territory  without  resistance,  and  exercise,  peaceably  and  unmo- 
lested, all  the  functions  of  their  various  offices." 

The  Mormons,  on  their  part,  stipulated  that  the  army 
should  not  be  encamped  within  forty  miles  of  the  city ;  that 
they  should  protect  private  property  ;  that  they  should  march 
directly  through  the  city,  without  halting ;  and  should  not 
encamp  until  they  crossed  the  Jordan.  These  conditions 
were  substantially  complied  with.  "  On  the  26th  of  June 
General  Johnson  marched  the  army  under  his  command 
through  Salt  Lake  City,  and  encamped  on  the  banks  of  the 
river  Jordan,  just  without  the  city  limits.  The  place  selected 
for  a  permanent  camp  was  in  Cedar  Valley,  about  forty 
miles  south  of  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  and  known  as  Camp 
Floyd,  now  Fort  Crittenden." 

On  the  5th  of  July,  1858,  the  Mormon  refugees  received 
orders  to  return  to  their  homes.  With  joy  and  alacrity  they 
prepared  to  obey  the  welcome  summons. 

Governor  Gumming  had  frequently  urged  them  to  return, 
without  avail.  But  when  the  "  mighty  man  of  God"  sent 
*forth  his  mandate,  each  man  sprang  to  his  feet  as  if  by  magic, 


THE  MORMON  WAR.  G9 

rushed  to  his  teams,  and  before  the  morning  sun  gilded  the 
eastern  hills,  "  the  faithful "  were  again  returning  to  their 
Mecca. 

A  company  of  United  States  troops  were  stationed  on 
what  was  called  "  the  Dug  Out,"  to  prevent  collision  Avith 
the  Mormons  on  their  return  to  Salt  Lake.  The  officer  com- 
manding related  to  me  the  following  incident :  — 

"  I  witnessed  the  most  extreme  destitution  among  the  returninor 
emigrants.  I  saw  a  number  of  women  cooking  around  a  camp- 
fire,  and  their  clothing  was  extremely  scanty.  The  supply  of  a 
family  of  fourteen  persons  could  have  been  compressed  into  a 
small-sized  trunk.  One  evening  I  saw  two  or  three  women  cook- 
ing supper,  and  observing  that  they  had  neither  tea  nor  coffee,  I 
questioned  them,  and  they  repHed  they  had  had  none  for  two  or 
three  years.  At  this  time,  according  to  report,  it  took  a  four-mule 
team  to  draw  the  Prophet's  gold  and  silver,  besides  some  that  went 
in  other  conveyances." 

The  saints  again  entered  into  possession  of  their  deserted 
homes,  and  began,  as  well  as  the  lateness  of  the  season  would 
permit,  to  cultivate  their  farms  and  gardens. 

Thus  ended  this  crusade  against  the  modern  Mohammed 
and  his  followers. 


CHAPTER  V. 

POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

The  Mountain  Meadow  Massacre  and  other  Crimes  of  the  Mormons.  — 
Attempts  to  bring  the  Perpetrators  to  Justice.  —  Doings  of  Judge  Cra- 
dlebaugh.  —  Governor  Gumming  and  the  Military  Officers.  — Judge  Sin- 
clair's Court.  —  Governor  Dawson  and  his  Misfortunes. — New  Gov- 
ernor and  Associate  Justices  appointed. 

The  darkest  chapter  of  Mormon  history  is  now  before  us. 
It  becomes  my  duty  to  relate  one  of  the  most  perfidious  acts 
of  cruelty  and  wholesale  butchery  to  be  found  in  the  annals 
of  this  or  any  other  country.  In  doing  so,  free  use  will  be 
made  of  the  statements  of  Judge  Cradlebaugh  and  others 
who  were  thoroughly  conversant  with  all  the  facts. 

The  following  is  from  the  able  speech  of  Judge  Cradle- 
baugh, delivered  in  the  House  of  Representatives  on  the  7th 
of  February,  1863 :  — 

"  As  one  of  the  Associate  Justices  of  the  Territory  of  Utah, 
in  the  month  of  April,  1859,  I  commenced  and  held  a  term  of  the 
District  Court  for  the  Second  Judicial  District,  in  the  city  of 
Prove,  about  sixty  miles  south  of  Salt  Lake  City.  Upon  my 
requisition.  Gen.  A.  S.  Johnson,  in  command  of  the  military  de- 
partment, furnished  a  small  miUtary  force  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 
tecting the  court.  A  grand  jury  was  empanelled,  and  their  atten- 
tion was  pointedly  and  specifically  called  to  a  great  number  of 
crimes  that  had  been  committed  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  —  cases 
of  public  notoriety,  both  as  to  the  offence  and  the  persons  who 
had  perpetrated  the  same  ;  (for  none  of  these  things  had  "  been 
done  in  a  corner").  Their  perpetrators  had  scorned  ahke  con- 
cealment or  apology,  before  the  arrival  of  the  American  forces. 
The  jury  thus  instructed,  though  kept  in  session  two  weeks,  utterly 


POLITICAL  HISTOKY  CONTINUED.  71 

refused  to  do  anything,  and  were  finally  discharged,  as  an  evi- 
dently useless  appendage  of  a  court  of  justice.  But  the  court  was 
determined  to  try  a  last  resource,  to  bring  to  light  and  to  punish- 
ment those  guilty  of  the  atrocious  crimes  which  confessedly  had 
been  committed  in  the  Territory,  and  the  session  continued. 
Bench  warrants,  based  upon  sworn  information,  Avere  issued 
against  the  alleged  criminals,  and  United  States  Marshal  Dotson, 
a  most  excellent  and  reliable  officer,  aided  by  a  military  posse, 
procured  on  his  own  request,  had  succeeded  in  making  a  few 
arrests.  A  general  stampede  immediately  took  place  among  the 
Mormons,  and  what  I  wish  to  call  your  attention  to,  as  particularly 
noticeable,  is  the  fact  that  this  occurred  more  especially  among 
the  church  officials  and  civil  officers.     .     .     . 

"  Sitting  as  a  committing  magistrate,  complaint  after  complaint 
was  made  before  me  of  murders  and  robberies.  Among  these  I 
may  mention,  as  peculiarly  and  shockingly  prominent,  the  murder 
of  Forbes,  the  assassination  of  the  Parrishes  and  Potter,  of  Jones 
and  his  mother,  of  the  Aiken  party,  of  which  there  were  six  in 
all ;  and,  worst  and  darkest  in  the  appalling  catalogue  of  blood, 
the  cowardly,  cold-blooded  butchery  and  robbery  at  the  Moun- 
tain Meadows.  At  that  time  there  still  lay,  all  ghastly,  under  the 
sun  of  Utah,  the  uuburied  skeletons  of  one  hundred  and  nineteen 
men,  women,  and  children,  the  hapless,  hopeless  victims  of  the 
Mormon  creed.     .     .     . 

"  The  scene  of  this  horrible  massacre  at  the  Mountain  Mead- 
ows is  situate  about  three  hundred  and  twenty  miles  west  of 
south  from  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  on  the  road  leading  to  Los 
Angelos,  in  California.  I  was  the  first  federal  Judge  in  that  part 
of  the  Territory  after  the  occurrence,  —  my  district  extending 
from  a  short  distance  below  Salt  Lake  City  to  the  south  end  of 
the  Territory.  I  determined  to  visit  that  part  of  my  district,  and, 
if  possible,  expose  the  persons  engaged  in  the  massacre,  which  I 
did  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1859.  I  accordingly  embraced 
an  opportunity  of  accompanying  a  small  detachment  of  soldiers, 
who  were  being  sent  to  that  section  by  Gen.  Johnson,  —  having 
requested  the  Marshal  of  the  Territory  to  accompany,  or  to  send 
a  deputy.  He  accordingly  sent  deputy  William  H.  Eodgers,  who 
went  with  me. 

"  The  command  went  as  far  south  as  the  St.  Clara,  twenty 
miles  beyond  the  Mountain  Meadows,  where  we  camped,  and  re- 


72  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

mained  about  a  week.  During  our  stay  there  I  was  visited  by  the 
Indian  chiefs  of  that  section,  who  gave  me  their  version  of  the 
massacre.  They  admitted  that  a  portion  of  their  men  were  en- 
gaged in  the  massacre,  but  were  not  there  when  the  attack  com- 
menced. One  of  them  told  me,  in  the  presence  of  the  others, 
that  after  the  attack  had  been  made,  a  white  man  came  to  their 
camp  with  a  piece  of  paper,  which,  he  said,  Briijham  Young  had 
sent,  that  directed  them  to  go  and  help  to  whip  the  emigrants. 
A  portion  of  the  band  went,  but  did  not  assist  in  the  fight.  He 
gave  as  a  reason,  that  the  emigrants  had  long  guns,  and  were  good 
shots.  He  said  that  his  brother  [this  chief's  name  was  Jackson] 
was  shot  while  running  across  the  Meadow,  at  a  distance  of  two 
hundred  yards  from  the  corral  where  the  emigrants  were.  He 
said  the  Mormons  were  all  painted.  He  said  the  Indians  got  a 
part  of  the  clothing ;  and  gave  the  names  of  John  D.  Lee,  Presi- 
dent Haight,  and  Bishop  Higbee,  as  the  big  captains.  It  might 
be  proper  here  to  remark  that  the  Indians  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  Territory  of  Utah  are  not  numerous,  and  are  a  very  low,  cow- 
ardly, beastly  set,  very  few  of  them  being  armed  with  guns.  They 
are  not  formidable.  I  believe  all  in  the  southern  part  of  the  Ter- 
ritory would,  under  no  circumstances,  carry  on  a  fight  against  ten 
white  men. 

"  From  our  camp  on  the  St.  Clara  we  again  went  back  to  the 
INIountain  Meadows,  camping  near  where  the  massacre  had  oc- 
curred. The  Meadow  Is  about  five  miles  in  length  and  one  in 
width,  running  to  quite  a  narrow  point  at  the  southwest  end, 
being  higher  at  the  middle  than  either  end.  It  Is  the  divide 
between  the  waters  that  flow  Into  the  Great  Basin  and  those 
emptying  Into  the  Colorado  River.  A  very  large  spring  rises  In 
the  south  end  of  the  narrow  part.  It  was  on  the  north  side  of 
this  spring  the  emigrants  were  camped.  The  bank  rises  from  the 
spring  eight  or  ten  feet,  then  extends  off  to  the  north  about  two 
hundred  yards,  on  a  level.  A  range  of  hills  Is  there  reached, 
rising  perhaps  fifty  or  sixty  feet.  Back  of  this  range  is  quite  a 
valley,  which  extends  down  until  It  has  an  outlet,  three  or  lour 
hundred  yards  below  the  spring.  Into  the  main  meadow. 

"  The  first  attack  was  made  by  going  down  this  i-avlne,  then 
following  up  the  bed  of  the  spring  to  near  It,  then  at  daylight 
firing  upon  the  men  who  were  about  the  camp-fires,  —  In  which 
attack  ten  or  twelve  of  the  emigrants  were  killed  or  wounded ; 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  78 

the  stock  of  tbe  emigrants  having  been  previously  driven  behind 
the  hill,  and  up  the  ravine. 

"  The  emigrants  soon  got  in  condition  to  repel  the  attack,  shoved 
their  wagons  together,  sunk  the  wheels  in  the  earth,  and  threw 
up  quite  an  intrenchment.  The  fighting  after  continued  as  a 
siege ;  the  assailants  occupying  the  hill,  and  firing  at  any  of  the 
emigrants  that  exposed  themselves,  having  a  barricade  of  stones 
along  the  crest  of  the  hill  as  a  protection.  The  siege  was  con- 
tinued for  five  days,  the  besiegers  appearing  in  the  garb  of  Indians. 
The  Mormons,  seeing  that  they  could  not  capture  the  train  with- 
out making  some  sacrifice  of  life  on  their  part,  and  getting  weary 
of  the  fight,  resolved  to  accomplish  by  strategy  what  they  were 
not  able  to  do  by  force.  The  fight  had  been  going  on  for  five 
days,  and  no  aid  was  received  fi'om  any  quarter,  although  the  fam- 
ily of  Jacob  Hamlin,  the  Indian  agent,  were  living  in  the  upper 
end  of  the  Meadow,  and  within  hearing  of  the  reports  of  the 
guns.  * 

"  Who  can  imagine  the  feelings  of  these  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren, surrounded,  as  they  supposed  themselves  to  be,  by  savages  ? 
Fathers  and  mothers  only  can  judge  what  they  must  have  been. 
Far  ofi',  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  without  transportation,  —  for 
their  cattle,  horses  and  mules  had  been  run  oflT,  —  not  knowing 
what  their  fate  was  to  be,  —  we  can  but  poorly  realize  the  gloom 
that  pervaded  the  camp. 

"  A  wagon  is  descried,  far  up  the  Meadows.  Upon  its  nearer 
approach,  it  is  observed  to  contain  armed  men.  See  !  now  they 
raise  a  white  flag !  All  is  joy  in  the  corral.  A  general  shout  is 
raised,  and  in  an  instant,  a  little  gii-l,  dressed  in  white,  is  placed 
at  an  opening  between  two  of  the  wagons,  as  a  response  to  the 
signal.  The  wagon  approaches ;  the  occupants  are  welcomed  into 
the  corral,  the  emigrants  little  suspecting  that  they  were  enter- 
taining the  fiends  that  had  been  besieging  them. 

"  This  wagon  contained  President  Haight  and  Bishop  John  D. 
Lee,  among  others  of  the  Mormon  Church.  They  professed  to  be 
on  good  terms  with  the  Indians,  and  represented  the  Indians  as 
being  very  mad.  They  also  proposed  to  intercede,  and  settle  the 
matter  with  the  Indians.  After  several  hours  of  parley,  they,  hav- 
ing apparently  visited  the  Indians,  gave  the  ultimatum  of  the  In- 
dians ;  which  was,  that  the  emigrants  should  march  out  of  their 
camp,  leaving  everything  behind  them,  even  their  guns.     It  waa 


74  rOLITICAL  HISTORY   CONTINUED. 

promised  by  the  Mormon  bishops  that  they  would  bring  a  force, 
and  guard  the  emigrants  back  to  the  settlements. 

"  The  terms  were  agi'eed  to,  —  the  emigrants  being  desirous  of 
saving  the  lives  of  their  families.  The  Mormons  retired,  and  sub- 
sequently appeared  at  the  corral  with  thirty  or  forty  armed  men. 
The  emigrants  were  marched  out,  the  women  and  children  in 
front,  and  the  men  behind,  the  Mormon  guard  being  in  the  rear. 
When  they  had  marched  in  this  way  about  a  mile,  at  a  given  sig- 
nal, the  slaughter  commenced.  The  men  were  most  all  shot  down 
at  the  first  fire  from  the  guard.  Two  only  escaped,  who  fled  to 
the  desert,  and  were  followed  150  miles  before  they  were  over- 
taken and  slaughtered. 

"  The  women  and  children  ran  on,  two  or  three  hundred  yards 
fiu'ther,  when  they  were  overtaken,  and  with  the  aid  of  the  In- 
dians they  were  slaughtered.  Seventeen  only  of  the  small  chil- 
dren were  saved,  the  eldest  being  only  seven  years.  Thus,  on  the 
10th  day  of  September,  1857,  was  consummated  one  of  the  most 
cruel,  cowardly,  and  bloody  murders  known  in  our  history.  Upon 
the  way  from  the  Meadows,  a  young  Indian  pointed  out  to  me  the 
place  where  the  Mormons  painted  and  disguised  themselves. 

"  I  went  from  the  Meadows  to  Cedar  City ;  the  distance  is  thirty- 
five  or  forty  miles.  I  contemplated  holding  an  examining  court 
there,  should  Gen.  Johnson  furnish  me  protection,  and  also  pro- 
tect witnesses,  and  furnish  the  Marshal  a  po.'ise  to  aid  in  making 
arrests.  While  there  I  issued  warrants,  on  affidavits  filed  before 
me,  for  the  arrest  of  the  following  named  persons  :  — 

"  Jacob  Haight,  President  of  the  Cedar  City  Stake  ;  Bishop 
John  M.  Higbee  and  Bishop  John  D.  Lee ;  Columbus  Freeman, 

William  Slade,  John  Willis,  William  Riggs, Ingram,  Daniel 

McFarlan,  William  Stewart,  Ira  Allen  and  son,  Thomas  Cart- 
wright,  E.  Welean,  William  Halley,  Jabes  Nomlen,  John  Man- 
gum,  James  Price,  John  W.  Adair,  Tyler,  Joseph  Smith, 

Samuel  Pollock,  John  IMcFarlan,  Nephi  Johnson,  Thorn- 
ton, Joel  White,  Harrison,  Charles  Hopkins,  Joseph  Elang, 

Samuel  Lewis,  Sims  Matheney,  James  Maiigum,  Harrison  Pierce, 
Samuel  Adair,  F.  C.  McDulange,  W^m.  Bateman,  Ezra  Curtis, 
and  Alexander  Loveridge. 

"  In  a  few  days  after  arriving  at  Cedar  City,  Capt.  Campbell 
arrived,  with  his  command,  from  the  Meadows ;  on  his  return,  he 
advised  me  that  he  had  received  orders,  for  his  command  entire, 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  75 

to  return  to  Camp  Floyd ;  the  General  having  received  orders 
from  Washington  that  the  military  should  not  be  used  in  protect- 
ing the  courts,  or  in  acting  as  a  posse  to  aid  the  Marshal  in  mak- 
ing arrests. 

"  While  at  Cedar  City  I  was  visited  by  a  number  of  apostate 
Mormons,  who  gave  me  every  assurance  that  they  would  furnish 
an  abundance  of  evidence  in  regard  to  the  matter  so  soon  as  they 
were  assured  of  military  protection.  In  fact,  some  of  the  persons 
engaged  in  the  act  came  to  see  me  in  the  night,  and  gave  a  full 
account  of  the  matter,  —  intending  when  protection  was  at  hand, 
to  become  witnesses.  They  claimed  that  they  had  been  forced 
into  the  matter  by  the  bishops.  Their  statements  corroborated 
what  the  Indians  had  previously  said  to  me.  Mr.  Rodgers,  the 
Deputy  Marshal,  was  also  engaged  in  hunting  up  the  children,  sur- 
vivors of  the  massacre.  They  were  all  found  in  the  custody  of 
the  Mormons.  Three  or  four  of  the  eldest  recollect  and  relate 
all  the  incidents  of  the  massacre,  corroborating  the  statements  of 
the  Indians,  and  the  statements  made  by  the  citizens  of  Cedar 
City  to  me. 

"  These  children  are  now  in  the  south  part  of  Missouri,  or 
north  part  of  Arkansas  ;  their  testimony  could  soon  be  taken,  if 
desired.  No  one  can  depict  the  glee  of  these  infants,  when  they 
realized  that  they  were  in  the  custody  of  what  they  called  '  the 
Americans,'  —  for  such  is  the  designation  of  those  not  Mormons. 
They  say  they  never  were  in  the  custody  of  the  Indians.  I  recol- 
lect of  one  of  them,  '  John  Calvin  Sori'ow,'  after  he  found  he  was 
safe,  and  before  he  was  brought  away  from  Salt  Lake  City,  al- 
though not  yet  nine  years  of  age,  sitting  in  a  contemplative  mood, 
no  doubt  thinking  of  the  extermination  of  his  family,  saying :  '  Oh, 
I  wish  I  was  a  man  ;  I  know  what  I  would  do  ;  I  would  shoot  John 
D.  Lee  ;  I  saw  him  shoot  my  mother.'  I  shall  never  forget  how 
he  looked. 

"  Time  will  not  permit  me  to  elaborate  the  matter.  I  shall 
barely  sum  up,  and  refer  every  member  of  this  House,  who  may 
have  the  least  doubt  about  the  guilt  of  the  Mormons  In  this  mas- 
sacre, and  th  .  other  crimes  to  which  I  have  alluded,  to  the  evi- 
dence published  in  the  appendix  hereto." 

To  the  foregoing  tlirilling  recital,  I  will  only  add :  —  The 
train  consisted  of  40  wagons,  800  head  of  cattle,  and  about 
60  horses  and  mules.     As  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  there 


76  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTIXUED. 

were  about  150  men  and  women,  besides  many  children. 
They  passed  through  Salt  Lake  City,  and  were  there  joined 
by  some  few  Mormons,  who  were  disaffected,  and  sought  to 
travel  under  their  protection. 

A  revelation  from  Brigliam  Young,  as  Great  Grand  Ar- 
chee,  or  God,  was  despatched  to  President  J.  C.  Haiglit, 
Bishop  Higbee,  and  J.  D.  Lee,  commanding  them  to  raise  all 
the  forces  they  could  muster  and  trust,  follow  those  cursed 
gentiles  (so  read  the  revelation),  attack  them,  disguised  as 
Indians,  and  with  the  arrows  of  the  Almighty  make  a  clean 
sweep  of  them,  and  leave  none  to  tell  the  tale ;  and  if  they 
needed  any  assistance,  they  were  commanded  to  hire  the  In- 
dians as  their  allies,  promising  them  a  share  of  the  booty. 
They  were  to  be  neither  slothful  nor  negligent  in  their  duty, 
and  to  be  punctual  in  sending  the  teams  back  to  him  be- 
fore winter  set  in,  for  this  was  the  mandate  of  Almighty 
God. 

On  the  following  day  a  council  of  all  the  faithful  was  held 
at  Cedar  City.  Many  attended  from  the  neighboring  settle- 
ments ;  the  revelation  was  read,  and  the  destiny  of  the  unsus- 
pecting emigrants  sealed.  Plans  were  suggested,  discussed, 
and  adopted,  and  the  men  designated  to  carry  out  their  hell- 
ish designs.  Instructions  were  given  for  them  to  assemble 
at  a  small  spring,  but  a  short  distance  to  the  left  of  the  road 
leading  into  the  Meadows,  —  a  number  of  intervening  hills 
rendering  it  a  fit  place  for  concealment.  Here  they  painted 
and  disguised  themselves  as  Indians,  and  when  ready  to 
commence  operations,  by  a  well-known  Indian  trail  proceeded 
to  the  Meadows. 

For  the  benefit  of  those  who  may  stiU  be  disposed  to 
doubt  the  guilt  of  Young  and  his  Mormons  in  this  transac- 
tion, the  testimony  is  here  collated,  and  circumstances  given, 
which  go,  not  merely  to  implicate,  but  to  fasten  conviction 
upon  them,  by  "confirmations  strong  as  proofs  from  Holy 
Writ." 

1.  The  evidence  of  Mormons  themselves,  engaged  in  the 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  77 

affair,  as   shown  by  the  statements  of  Judge  Cradlebaugh 
and  Deputy-Marshal  Rodgers. 

2.  The  statements  of  Indians  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
massacre :  these  statements  are  shown,  not  only  by  Cradle- 
baugh and  Rodgers,  but  by  a  number  of  military  officers,  and 
by  J.  Forney,  who  was,  in  1859,  Superintendent  of  Indian 
Affairs  for  the  Territory.  To  all  these  were  such  statements 
freely  and  frequently  made  by  the  Indians. 

3.  The  testimony  of  the  children  saved  from  the  massacre. 

4.  The  children  and  the  property  of  the  emigrants  found 
in  possession  of  the  Mormons,  and  that  possession  traced 
back  to  the  very  day  after  the  massacre. 

5.  The  failure  of  Brigham  Young  to  embody  any  account 
of  it  in  his  Report  as  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs. 
Also  his  failure  to  make  any  allusion  to  it  whatever  from 
the  pulpit,  until  several  years  after  the  occurrence. 

6.  The  failure  of  the  "  Deseret  News,"  the  Church  organ, 
and  the  only  paper  then  published  in  the  Territory,  to  notice 
the  massacre,  until  several  months  afterward,  and  then  only 
to  deny  that  Mormons  were  engaged  in  it. 

7.  The  flight  to  the  mountains  of  men  high  in  authority 
in  the  Mormon  Church  and  State,  when  this  affair  was 
brought  to  the  ordeal  of  a  judicial  investigation. 

8.  The  testimony  of  R.  P.  Campbell,  Capt.  2d  Dragoons, 
who  was  sent  in  the  spring  of  1859  to  Santa  Clara,  to  pro- 
tect travellers  on  the  road  to  California,  and  to  inquire  into 
Indian  depredations. 

In  his  report  to  Major  E.  J.  Potter,  Assistant  Adjutant- 
General  U.  S.  Army,  dated  July  6,  1859,  he  says  :  — 

"  These  emigrants  were  here  met  by  the  Mormons  (assisted  by 
such  of  the  wretched  Indians  of  the  neighborhood  as  they  could 
force  or  persuade  to  join),  and  massacred,  with  the  exception  of 
Buch  infant  children  as  the  Mormons  thought  too  young  to  re- 
member, or  tell  of  the  affair. 

"  The  ]\lormons  were  led  on  by  John  D.  Lee,  then  a  high  dig- 
nitary in  the  self-styled  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter  Day 
Saints,  and  Isaac  Haight,  now  a  dignitaiy  in  the  same." 


78  POLITICAL  IIISTOKY  CONTINUED. 

Again,  after  relating  briefly  the  massacre,  he  says :  — 

*'  These  facts  were  derived  from  children  who  did  remember, 
and  could  tell  of  the  matter ;  from  Indians,  and  from  the  Mormona 
themselves." 

9.  The  testimony  of  Hon.  J.  Forney,  Superintendent  of 
Indian  Affairs. 

In  his  letter  to  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs  at 
"Washington,  dated  Provo  City,  U.  T.,  March,  1859,  he 
says : — 

"  Facts  in  my  possession  •warrant  me  in  estimating  that  there 
was  distributed,  a  few  days  after  the  massacre,  among  the  leading 
church  dignitaries,  S30,000  worth  of  property." 

Again,  in  another  letter  to  the  Commissioner,  written  from 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  in  August  of  the  same  year,  he  says : — 

"  From  the  evidence  in  my  possession,  I  am  justified  in  the 
declaration  that  this  massacre  was  concocted  by  white  men,  and 
consummated  by  whites  and  Indians.  The  names  of  many  of  the 
whites  engaged  in  this  terrible  affair  have  already  been  given  to 
the  proper  legal  authorities.  .  .  .  The  children  were  sold  out 
to  different  persons  in  Cedar  City,  Harmony,  and  Painter  Creek. 
Bills  are  now  in  my  possession  from  different  individuals,  asking 
payment  from  the  Government.  I  cannot  condescend  to  become 
the  medium  of  even  transmitting  such  claims  to  the  Depart- 
ment." 

The  following  is  from  the  Annual  Report  of  Superintend- 
ent Forney,  made  in  September,  1859  :  — 

"  Mormons  have  been  accused  of  aiding  the  Indians  in  the  com- 
mission of  this  crime.  I  commenced  my  inquiries  without  preju- 
dice or  selfish  motive,  and  with  the  hope  that,  in  the  progress  of 
my  inquiries,  facts  would  enable  me  to  exculpate  all  white  men 
from  any  participation  in  this  tragedy,  and  saddle  the  guilt  exclu- 
eively  on  the  Indians ;  but,  unfortunately,  every  step  in  my  in- 
quiries satisfied  me  that  the  Indians  acted  only  a  secondary  part. 
.  .  .  White  men  were  present,  and  directed  the  Indians.  John 
D.  Lee,  of  Harmony,  told  me  in  his  own  house,  last  April,  in 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  79 

presence  of  two  persons,  that  he  was  present  three  successive  days 
during  the  fight,  andwas  present  during  the  fatal  day."    .    .    . 

"We  close  the  testimony  of  Forney,  by  giving  entire  a  letter 
from  him  to  the  Department  at  Washington,  — 

"  Superintendent's  Office,  Utah,  | 

Great  Salt  Lake  Citv,  September  22,  1859. ) 

*'  Sir,  —  Your  letter  dated  July  2,  in  which  you  request  me  to 
ascertain  the  names  of  white  men,  if  any,  implicated  in  the  Moun- 
tain Meadow  massacre,  reached  me  several  weeks  since,  about  300 
miles  west  of  this  city. 

"  I  gave,  several  months  ago,  to  the  Attorney-General,  and 
several  of  the  United  States  Judges,  the  names  of  those  who  I 
believed  were  not  only  implicated,  but  the  hell-deserving  scoun- 
drels who  concocted  and  brought  to  a  successful  termination  the 
whole  affair. 

"  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  persons  the  most  guilty: 
Isaac  T.  Haight,  Cedar  City,  president  of  several  settlements 
south  ;  Bishop  Smith,  Cedar  City ;  John  D.  Lee,*  Harmony ;  John 
M.  Higby,  Cedar  City ;  Bishop  Davis,  David  Tullis,  Santa  Clara ; 
Ira  Hatch,  Santa  Clara.  These  were  the  cause  of  the  massacre, 
aided  by  others.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  nothing  has  yet  been 
accomplished  towards  bringing  these  murderers  to  justice.  I 
remain, 

"  Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"  J.  Forney, 
"  Sup't  of  Indian  Affairs,  Utah  Territory. 
"  Hon.  A.  B.  Greenwood, 

"  Commiss'r  Indian  Affairs,  Washington,  D.  C" 

So  far  as  Brigham  Young  himself  is  concerned,  the  evi- 
dence is  not  so  direct,  but  is  scarcely  less  conclusive. 

In  addition  to  the  circumstances  mentioned,  of  his  failing 
to  report  the  massacre,  or  to  make  any  mention  of  it  in  big 
public  discourses,  and  the  testimony  of  the  Indians,  already 
referred  to  ;  in  addition  also  to  the  facts  concerning  the  reve- 
lation sent  from  him,  —  facts  communicated  by  one  intimately 
acquainted  with  the  secret  history  of  the  church ;   in  addi- 

*  John  D.  Lee  is  an  adopted  son  of  Brigham  Young. 


80  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

tion  to  these  things,  if  we  reflect  for  a  moment  upon  the 
framework  of  the  Mormon  Church,  we  will  find  therein  still 
more  cogent  evidence. 

The  organization  of  the  church  is  such,  that  no  project  of 
importance  is  ever  undertaken  without  the  express  or  implied 
consent  of  Young,  who  is  in  temporal,  as  well  as  spiritual 
matters,  the  head  and  source  of  all  authority.  Now  here  was 
a  large  train  which  had  lately  passed  through  the  place 
where  Young  resided,  and  his  feedings  and  views  in  relation 
to  it  would  be  well  known  to  the  leaders  of  the  church. 
Can  it  fur  a  moment  be  admitted,  that  members  of  a  com- 
munity so  organized  would  undertake  so  important  a  proj- 
ect as  the  destruction  of  that  train,  requiring,  as  it  did, 
the  concerted  action  of  forty  or  fifty  persons,  without  the 
express  or  implied  sanction  of  him  who  sat  at  the  head  of 
the  community,  controlling  its  every  action  ? 

And  if  such  a  thing  can  be  supposed  possible,  would  not 
the  perpetrators  be  immediately  called  to  account  for  assum- 
ing so  much  responsibility  ?  Reason  and  evidence  all 
point  one  way ;  and  add  this  to  the  many  other  acts  which 
stamp  Brigham  Young  as  a  murderer  of  the  deepest  dye,  — 
adding  to  the  guilt  of  homicide  that  of  blasphemy  and  hypoc- 
risy. 

What  was  the  motive  which  prompted  the  act  ?  Partly 
revenge.  These  emigrants  were  from  Missouri  and  Arkan- 
sas, the  scenes  of  the  alleged  injuries  and  persecutions  of  the 
Mormons.  It  was  soon  after  the  killing  of  Parley  P.  Pratt, 
in  Arkansas,  by  McLane,  whose  wife  Pratt  had  abducted. 
It  was  at  the  time,  too,  when  the  United  States  troops  were 
marching  to  Utah,  and  a  feeling  of  revenge  and  retaliation 
was  prevalent,  and  was,  as  has  been  shown,  fostered  and 
encouraged  by  Brigham  in  his  sermons. 

But  the  principal  motive  was  plunder.  The  train  was  a 
very  wealthy  one.  The  spoil  of  the  gentile  was  before  them, 
and  it  must  be  appro|)riated  by  the  Lord's  people. 

A  great  portion  of  the  property  was  taken  to  Cedar  City; 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  81 

deposited  in  the  tithing  office,  and  there  sold  out.     Forney 
says,  in  the  Annual  Report  already  quoted  from,  — 

"  Whoever  may  have  been  the  perpetrators  of  this  horrible 
deed,  no  doubt  exists  in  my  mind  that  they  were  influenced  chiefly 
by  a  determination  to  acquire  wealth  by  robbery."  * 

It  is  not  within  the  scope  of  this  work  to  enter  into  a 
relation  of  the  many  other  murders  and  outrages  committed 
by  the  authority  or  connivance  of  the  Mormon  Church. 
This  is  given  as  the  most  notable  one,  — "  ex  uno  disce 
omnes"  Those  who  wish  to  examine  into  these  crimes  more 
fully,  are  referred  to  the  appendix  to  the  printed  speech  of 
Judge  Cradlebaugh. 

The  "  Mormon  War  "  having  closed,  the  federal  officers, 
as  soon  as  practicable,  assumed  their  functions,  and  proceeded 
to  transact  business.  Federal  courts  were  held,  and  the  au- 
thority of  the  United  States  again,  at  kast  nominally,  estab- 
lished in  Utah. 

In  October,  1858,  Judge  Sinclair  opened  his  court  in  Salt 
Lake  City.  Efforts  were  made  to  bring  several  noted  crim- 
inals to  justice,  but  everything  failed.  In  the  grand  jury- 
room  no  indictments  were  found,  and  murderers  and  thieves 
were  allowed  to  go  "  scot  free." 

At  this  term  of  court  a  motion  was  made  to  expel  James 
Ferguson  from  the  bar,  for  contempt  of  court.  Ferguson 
offered  to  retire  fi'om  the  bar,  which  was  not  accepted.  He 
then  proposed  to  plead  guilty ;  but  the  Judge  said,  as  it  was 
alleged  that  a  Judge  of  the  United  States  had  been  insulted 

*  Several  years  after  the  massacre,  Major,  now  General  Carlton,  visited 
that  region  and  erected  a  monument  to  the  memory'  of  the  slain.  "  It  was 
constructed  by  raising  a  large  pile  of  rock,  in  the  centre  of  which  was 
erected  a  beam,  some  twelve  or  fifteen  feet  in  height.  Upon  one  of  the 
stones  he  caused  to  be  engraved,  '  Here  lie  the  bones  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  men,  women,  and  children,  from  Arkansas,  murdered  on  the  10th 
day  of  September,  1857.'  Upon  a  cross-tree,  on  the  beam,  he  caused  to  be 
painted:  'Vengeance  is  mine,  saith  the  Lord,  and  I  will  repay  it.'  This 
monument  is  said  to  have  been  destroyed  the  first  time  Brigham  visited 
that  part  of  the  Territory." 
6 


82  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

and  intimidated,  when  in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duty,  it 
was  important  that  the  country  be  put  in  possession  of  tlie 
facts,  and  no  plea  of  crimination  or  stultification  should  pre- 
vent an  exposure. 

The  grand  jury  did,  finally,  in  this  case,  make  the  follow- 
ing presentment :  — 

"  The  grand  jury  find,  that  James  Ferguson,  of  G.  S.  L.  City, 
U.  T.,  did  use  language  and  threats  calculated  to  intimidate  Judge 
George  P.  Stiles,  U.  S.  District  Judge,  while  in  the  discharge  of 
his  ofBcial  duties,  and  pi-esiding  as  Judge  of  this  District  Court,  at 
the  February  Terra,  1857 

"  Eleazer  Miller,  Foreman." 

The  right  of  trial  by  jury  is  one  guaranteed  by  the  Con- 
stitution, and  with  which  it  would  be  higldy  dangerous  to 
interfere,  except  in  cases  of  extreme  necessity,  involving  the 
safety  of  a  whole  people  or  community.  The  Mormons,  with 
their  ususl  shrewdness,  take  advantage  of  this,  and  manage 
to  control  the  United  States  Courts  through  the  grand  and 
petit  juries.  The  following  extracts  will  show  how  it  is 
done. 

March  2d,  1856,  in  his  remarks,  made  in  the  Tabernacle, 
Jedediah  M.  Grant,  then  one  of  the  "  President's "  coun- 
sellors, said :  — 

"  Last  Sunday,  the  President  chastised  some  of  the  Apostles  and 
Bishops,  who  were  on  the  grand  jury.  Did  he  fully  succeed  in 
clearing  away  the  fog  which  surrounded  them,  and  in  removing 
blindness  from  their  eyes  ?  No,  for  they  could  go  to  their  room 
and  again  disagree ;  though  to  their  credit  it  must  be  admitted 
that  a  brief  explanation  made  them  unanimous  in  their  action." 

Again,  in  the  same  connection,  Grant,  speaking  of  a  trial- 
jury,  continues, — 

"  Several  have  got  into  the  fog,  to  suck  and  eat  the  filth  of  a 
gentile  court ;  ostensibly  a  court  in  Utah." 

Here  is  the  highest  evidence  of  the  direct  interference  of 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  83 

Brigliam  Young  with  the  right  of  trial  by  jury,  and  the  pros- 
titution of  the  jury-box  to  the  accomijlishment  of  his  schemes. 
How  could  he  strike  a  more  fatal  blow  at  our  free  institu- 
tions, or  at  the  rights  and  liberties  of  American  citizens  who 
may  happen  to  live  within  the  sphere  of  his  influence  ?  For 
this  alone  he  should  be  hurled  from  the  defiant  position  he 
occupies,  and  brought  to  the  bar  of  impartial  justice. 

Though  the  evidence  was  perfectly  plain  and  conclusive 
in  the  case  of  Ferguson,  he  was  acquitted.  Comment  is  un- 
necessary. 

The  Judge,  finding  all  efforts  to  bring  criminals  to  justice 
unavailing,  adjourned  his  court  sine  die. 

The  Mormon  Legislature  had  never  made  provision  for 
defraying  the  expenses  of  the  United  States  Courts,  while 
doing  territorial  business,  though  their  attention  had  fre- 
quently been  called  to  the  necessity  of  so  doing.  Their 
object  was  to  throw  all  the  business  into  the  probate  courts ; 
and  in  this  they  eventually  succeeded,  except  in  the  court 
presided  over  by  Judge  Kinney,  —  the  only  one,  after  the 
"  war,"  which  acted  simply  as  an  adjunct  and  instrument  of 
the  church  authorities. 

"  During  the  sitting  of  Judge  Sinclair's  court,  the  Mormon 
grand  jury  promptly  found  a  bill  of  indictment  against  one  Ralph 
Pike,  a  sergeant  in  Company  I,  of  the  10th  Infantry,  United  States 
Army,  for  an  assault  with  intent  to  kill,  committed  upon  one  How- 
ard Spencer,  the  son  of  a  Mormon  bishop,  at  the  military  reserve, 
in  Eush  Valley.  Upon  capias  issued,  Pike  was  arrested,  and 
brought  to  Great  Salt  Lake  City.  The  day  following,  August  11, 
1858,  about  twelve  o'clock,  m.,  as  Pike  was  entering  the  Salt 
Lake  House,  on  Main  Street,  Spencer  stepped  up  to  him  from 
behind,  saying,  '  Are  you  the  man  that  struck  me  in  Rush  Val- 
ley ? '  at  the  same  time,  drawing  his  pistol,  shot  him  through  the 
side,  inflicting  a  mortal  wound.  Spencer  ran  across  the  street, 
mounted  his  horse,  and  rode  oS",  accompanied  by  several  noted 
*  Danites.'  Pike  lingered  in  dreadful  agony,  two  days,  before  he 
died.  The  '  Deseret  News,'  in  its  next  issue,  lauded  young  Spen- 
cer for  his  courage  and  bravery. 


84  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

"  A  man  by  the  name  of  Drown,  brought  suit  upon  a  promis- 
sory note  for  $480,  against  the  Danite  captain,  Bill  Hickman. 
The  case  being  submitted  to  the  court.  Drown  obtained  a  judg- 
ment. A  few  days  afterwards,  Drown  and  a  companion  named 
Arnold  were  stopping  at  the  house  of  a  friend  in  Salt  Lake  City, 
wh&n  Hickman,  with  some  seven  or  eight  of  his  band,  rode  up  to 
the  house,  and  called  for  Drown  to  come  out.  Drown,  suspecting 
foul  play,  refused  to  do  so,  and  locked  the  doors.  The  Danites 
thereupon  dismounted  from  their  horses,  broke  down  the  doors, 
and  shot  down  both  Drown  and  Arnold.  Drown  died  of  his 
wounds  next  morning,  and  Arnold  a  few  days  afterwards.  Hick- 
man and  his  band  rode  off  unmolested. 

"  Thus,  during  a  single  term  of  the  court,  held  in  a  Mormon 
community,  the  warm  life-blood  of  three  human  victims  is  shed 
upon  the  very  threshold  of  the  court ;  and  although  the  grand  jury 
is  in  session,  no  prosecution  is  attempted,  and  not  one  of  the  offend- 
ers brought  to  justice." 

Judge  Cradlebaugh  was  assigned  to  the  Second  Judicial 
District,  and  held  his  first  term  of  court  in  Prove  City,  com- 
mencing April  8th,  1859.  An  account  of  his  efForts  to  bring 
to  justice  the  Mountain  Meadow  and  other  murderers  has 
already  been  given  in  his  own  language. 

The  following  notice  of  this  bold  and  energetic  man  is 
from  the  "  Nevada  Temtorial  Enterprise  " :  — 

"  Judge  Cradlebaugh,  of  the  United  States  Court  of  Utah,  is 
making  his  mark  in  that  Territory,  if  half  that  is  written  of  him 

is  true Satisfied  that  many  of  the  leading  Mormons  had 

taken  part  in  or  instigated  the  Mountain  Meadow  massacre,  and 
the  murder  of  Jones,  Potter,  Forbes,  Parrish,  and  a  dozen  others, 

he  determined  to  bring  them  to  punishment He  spoke  and 

acted  with  the  fearlessness  and  resolution  of  a  Jackson ;  but  the 
jury  failed  to  indict,  or  even  report  on  the  charges,  while  threats 
of  violence  were  heard  in  every  quarter,  and  an  attack  on  the 
troops  intimated,  if  he  persisted  in  his  course. 

"  Finding  that  nothing  could  be  done  with  the  juries,  they  were 
discharged,  with  a  scathing  rebuke  from  the  Judge.  Sitting  as  a 
committing  magistrate,  he  commenced  his  task  alone.  He  ex- 
amined witnesses,  made  arrests  in  every  quarter,  and  created  a 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  85 

consternation  in  the  camps  of  the  saints,  greater  even  than  waa 
occasioned  by  the  arrival  of  the  troops  within  the  walls  of  Zion. 
At  last  accounts,  terrified  elders  and  bishops  were  decamping  to 
save  their  necks ;  and  developments  of  the  most  startling  character 
were  being  made,  implicating  the  highest  church  dignitaries  in  the 
many  murders  and  robberies  committed  upon  the  gentiles  during 
the  past  eight  years." 

Governor  Gumming  did  not  sustain  Judge  Gradlebaugh, 
but,  under  the  pretence  of  impartiality,  sought  to  screen  the 
Mormons  from  the  demands  of  justice. 

Hence  various  differences  between  Gumming  on  one  side, 
and  Johnson  and  Cradlebaugh  on  the  other ;  and  on  one  oc- 
casion the  Governor  went  so  far  as  to  publish  his  protest 
against  the  use  of  the  troops  in  aid  of  Gradlebaugh's  pro- 
ceedings. 

Gumming  was  a  native  of  Georgia.  He  had  married  a 
daughter  of  one  of  the  most  distinguished  physicians  of  Bos- 
ton, a  lady  of  many  accomplishments,  who  accompanied  him 
to  Utah. 

During  the  dreadful  reign  of  the  cholera  in  1836  he  was 
Mayor  of  Augusta,  Ga.,  and  is  said  to  have  rendered  efficient 
service  in  saving  the  lives  of  the  citizens. 

For  some  years  he  was  stationed  at  Jefferson  Barracks, 
Missouri.  At  the  commencement  of  the  Mexican  war  he 
was  at  Point  Isabel,  and  afterwards  on  the  Southern  line, 
attached  to  General  Scott's  staff.  Subsequently  he  was  de- 
tailed by  the  Government  to  visit  several  tribes  of  Indians  in 
the  far  West. 

He  had  performed  some  service  to  the  country,  and  was  f 
man  of  many  good  qualities  ;  but  was  very  vain,  and  fond  of 
attention,  and  was  unable  to  withstand  the  seductive  influ- 
ences which  the  Mormons,  know  so  well  how  to  bring  to  bear 
upon  persons  of  his  organization. 

Cradlebaugh,  finding  he  was  not  supported  by  Buchanan's 
administration,  left  Utah,  and  settled  in  the  Territory  of  Ne- 
vada ;  whence  he  has  been  twice  sent  as  delegate  to  Congress. 


86  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

and  we  look  to  see  hira,  at  no  distant  day,  represent  the  new 
State  of  Nevada  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States. 

In  1860  John  F.  Kinney  was  reappointed  Chief  Justice, 
succeeding  Judge  Eckels  ;  and  Judges  Crosby  and  Flenniken 
were  appointed  Associate  Justices,  to  succeed  Sinclair  and 
Cradlebaugh.  Judge  Cradlebaugh  did  not  resign,  and  not 
recognizing  the  right  of  the  President  to  remove  the  Judges, 
he  continued  to  perform  the  duties  of  his  office  for  some  time 
afterward. 

On  the  3d  of  October,  1861,  John  "W.  Dawson,  of  Indiana, 
was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln  Governor  of  Utah,  to 
succeed  Cumming,  who  had  left  the  Territory  some  months 
previous. 

In  the  appointment  of  Dawson,  Lincoln,  tp  use  his  own 
language,  was  "  imposed  on."  The  Senate  relieved  him  from 
the  imposition,  by  refusing  to  confirm  the  appointment. 

The  IMormons,  however,  anticipated  the  action  of  the  Sen- 
ate, and  speedily  ejected  Dawson  from  the  governorship. 
The  history  of  this  emeute  is  briefly  as  follows  :  — 

Dawson  arrived  at  Salt  Lake  about  the  commencement  of 
the  session  of  the  Legislature.  Having  some  notions  of  his 
own  concerning  legislative  affairs,  and  not  yielding,  like  his 
predecessor,  to  all  the  views  of  Brigham  Young,  he  soon 
became  involved  in  difficulties  from  which  he  was  unable  to 
extricate  himself.  He  had  not  the  nerve  and  ability  to  sus- 
tain himself  in  his  position.  The  Mormons  saw  this,  and  at 
once  resolved  upon,  planned,  and  accomplished  a  brilliant 
coup  d'etat,  similar  to  that  practised  upon  Steptoe.  Without 
going  into  details,  the  plan  may  be  seen  by  the  result ;  which 
was  the  affidavit  of  a  widow  woman  named  "Williams,  to  the 
effect  that  Dawson  had  insulted  her,  by  making  improper 
advances,  which,  of  course,  she  had  scornfully  repelled  and 
rejected. 

The  indignation  of  the  Mormons  was  aroused  to  the 
highest  pitch  by  this  base  attempt  upon  Mormon  virtue. 
Threats  were  made  so  fi-eely,  that  the   Governor  became 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  87 

very  much  alarmed,  and  precipitately  fled  the  Territory. 
Not  satisfied  with  this,  the  "  boys  "  waylaid  him  at  one  of 
the  stations,  and  gave  him  a  severe  beating. 

In  contemplating  this  serio-comic  affair,  one  hardly  knows 
which  most  to  condemn,  the  lawless  spirit  which  prompted 
such  treatment,  or  the  timidity  and  weakness  which  would 
submit  to  it. 

About  the  1st  of  February,  1862,  Judges  Flenniken  and 
Crosby  left  Salt  Lake  City,  and  the  federal  officers  there 
immediately  advised  the  President  of  the  fact  by  telegraph, 
and  recommended  the  appointment  of  their  successors.  Ac- 
cordingly on  the  3d  of  February,  1862,  Thomas  J.  Drake, 
of  Michigan,  and  Charles  B.  Waite,  of  IlUnois,  were  ap- 
pointed Associate  Justices,  and  on  the  31st  of  March  follow- 
ing, Stephen  S.  Harding,  of  Indiana,  was  appointed  Gov- 
ernor, to  succeed  Dawson. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

Arrival  of  the  New  Federal  Officers  in  July,  1862.  —  Colonel  Connor  ar- 
rives with  his  Command.  —  The  Jlessage  of  Gov.  Harding.  —  The  Mor- 
mons Indignant.  —  The  Legislature  refuse  to  print  the  Message.  —  Ac- 
tion of  the  United  States  Senate  thereon.  —  Forgery  in  the  Mormon 
Legislature.  —  Bill  of  Judge  Waite  to  amend  the  Organic  Act.  —  Indig- 
nation Meeting.  —  Governor  Harding  and  Judges  Waite  and  Drake  re- 
quested to  leave  the  Territory.  —  Their  Keplies.  —  Brigham.  —  The  Fed- 
eral Officers. 

Judges  Drake  and  Waite  arrived  in  Salt  Lake  City  on 
the  11th  of  July,  1862.  Governor  Harding  had  arrived  a 
few  days  previous. 

For  sevei'al  months  everything  passed  off  smoothly,  and 
Brigham  was  more  than  once  heard  to  say  the  officers  now  in 
the  Territory  were  "  good  men."  No  circumstances  occurred 
to  develop  any  differences,  and  it  was  hoped  by  the  federal 
officers  themselves  that  none  would  arise. 

In  the  mean  time,  in  October  of  the  same  year,  Colonel 
(now  General)  Connor  marched  into  and  through  Salt  Lake 
City  with  his  command,  and  established  his  camp  on  the 
"bench,"  or  high  land,  about  three  miles  east  of  the  city. 
His  forces  at  that  time  consisted  of  the  Third  Regiment  of 
Infantry,  California  Volunteers,  and  the  Second  Regiment 
of  Cavalry,  under  command  of  Col.  George  S.  Evans. 

Some  little  excitement  was  caused  by  the  entrance  of  the 
troops,  and  rumors  were  rife  of  threats  having  been  made  by 
the  Mormons  that  the  volunteers  should  never  "  cross  the 
Jordan,"  a  stream  a  few  miles  south  of  the  city,  and  which 
was  directly  on  their  line  of  march.  But  the  Jordan  was 
crossed,  the  camp  established,  and  everything  went  on  as 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  89 

usual,  until  the   meeting  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  in 
December. 

Then  the  pent-up  fires  began  to  break  forth.  The  first 
pretext  used  by  the  Mormons  for  indulging  in  words  and 
acts  of  hostility  was  the  Message  of  Governor  Harding  to 
the  Legislature.  Therein  he  called  the  attention  of  the  peo- 
ple, through  their  representatives,  to  the  practice  of  polyg- 
amy in  their  midst,  to  the  anomalous  state  of  society  it  tended 
to  establish,  to  its  incompatibility  with  our  free  institutions, 
and  especially  to  its  violation  of  an  Act  of  Congress  recently 
passed. 

The  following  are  the  portions  of  the  Message  which  gave 
most  offence  :  — 

"  Polygamy. 

"  It  would  be  disingenuous  if  I  were  not  to  advert  to  a  question 
which,  although  seemingly  it  has  nothing  to  do  in  the  premises, 
yet  is  one  of  vast  importance  to  you  as  a  people,  and  which  can- 
not be  ignored.  I  mean  that  institution  which  is  not  only  com- 
mended but  encouraged  by  you,  and  which,  to  say  the  least  of  it, 
is  an  anomaly  throughout  Christendom.  I  mean  polygamy,  or, 
if  you  prefer  the  term,  plurality  of  wives.  In  approaching  this 
delicate  subject,  I  desire  to  do  so  in  no  unkind  or  offensive  spirit ; 
yet  the  institution,  founded  upon  no  written  statute  of  your  Terri- 
tory, but  upon  custom  alone,  exists.     .     .     . 

"  I  lay  it  down  as  a  sound  proposition,  that  no  community  can 
happily  exist  with  an  institution  so  Important  as  that  of  marriage 
wanting  in  all  those  qualities  that  make  it  homogeneal  with  in- 
stitutions and  laws  of  neighboring  civilized  communities  having 
the  same  object. 

"  Anomalies  in  the  moral  world  cannot  long  exist  in  a  state  of 
mere  abeyance ;  they  must,  from  the  very  nature  of  things,  become 
aggressive,  or  they  will  soon  disappear,  from  the  force  of  conflict- 
ing ideas. 

"  This  proposition  is  supported  by  the  history  of  our  race,  and 
is  so  plain  that  it  may  be  set  down  as  an  axiom.  If  we  grant  this 
to  be  true,  we  may  sum  up  the  conclusion  of  the  argument  as  fol- 
lows :  either  the  laws  and  opinions  of  the  communities  by  which 
you  are  surrounded  must  become  subordinate  to  your  customs  and 


90  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

opinions,  or,  on  the  other  hand,  yours  must  yield  to  theirs.  The 
conflict  is  irrepressible. 

"  But  no  matter  whether  this  anomaly  shall  disappear  or  remain 
amongst  you,  it  is  your  duty  at  least  to  guard  it  against  flagrant 
abuses.  That  plurality  of  wives  is  tolerated  and  believed  to  be 
right,  may  not  appear  so  strange;  but  that  a  mother  and  her 
daughters  are  allowed  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  wives  to  the  same  hus- 
band, or  that  a  man  could  be  found  in  all  Christendom  who  could 
be  induced  to  take  ujjon  himself  such  a  relationship,  is,  perhaps, 
no  less  a  marvel  in  morals  than  in  matters  of  taste. 

"  The  bare  fact  that  such  practices  are  tolerated  amongst  you 
is  sufficient  evidence  that  the  human  passions,  whether  excited  by 
religious  fanaticism  or  otherwise,  must  be  restrained  and  subjected 
to  laws,  to  which  all  must  yield  obedience.  No  community  can 
long  e.xist,  without  absolute  social  anarchy,  unless  so  important  aa 
institution  as  that  of  marriage  is  regulated  by  law.  It  is  the  basis 
of  our  civilization,  and  in  it  the  whole  question  of  the  descent  and 
distribution  of  real  and  personal  estate  is  involved. 

"  Much  to  my  astonishment,  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  any 
law  upon  the  statutes  of  this  Territory  regulating  marriage.  I 
earnestly  recommend  to  your  early  consideration  the  passage  of 
some  law  that  will  meet  the  exigencies  of  the  people. 

^^  Act  of  Congress  against  Polygamy. 

"  I  respectfully  call  your  attention  to  an  Act  of  Congress,  passed 
the  1st  day  of  July,  18G2,  entitled  '  An  Act  to  punish  and  prevent 
the  practice  of  polygamy  in  the  Territories  of  the  United  States, 
and  in  other  jilaces,  and  disapproving  and  annulling  certain  Actg 
of  the  legislative  assembly  of  Utah,'  (chap,  cxxvii.  of  the  Statutes 
at  Large  of  the  last  session  of  Congress,  page  501.)  I  am  aware 
that  there  is  a  prevailing  opinion  here  that  said  Act  is  unconstitu- 
tional, and  therefore  it  is  recommended  by  those  in  high  authority 
that  no  regard  whatever  should  be  paid  to  the  same ;  and  still  more 
to  be  regretted,  if  I  am  rightly  informed,  in  some  instances  it  has 
been  recommended  that  it  be  openly  disregarded  and  defied, 
merely  to  defy  the  same. 

"  I  take  this  occasion  to  warn  the  people  of  this  Territory 
against  such  dangerous  and  disloyal  counsels.  Whether  such  Act 
is  unconstitutional  or  not,  is  not  necessary  for  me  either  to  afiirm 
or  deny.     The  individual  citizen,  under  no  circumstances  what* 


POLITICAL  HISTORY   CONTINUED.  91 

ever,  has  the  right  to  defy  any  law  or  statute  of  the  United  States 
with  impunity.  In  doing  so  he  takes  upon  himself  the  risk  of  the 
penalties  of  that  statute,  be  they  what  they  may,  in  case  his  judg- 
ment should  be  in  error. 

"  The  Constitution  has  amply  provided  how  and  where  all  such 
questions  of  doubt  are  submitted  and  settled,  namely,  in  the  courts 
constituted  for  that  purpose.  To  forcibly  resist  the  execution  of 
that  Act  would  be,  to  say  the  least,  a  high  misdemeanor  ;  and  if  a 
whole  community  should  become  involved  in  such  resistance, 
would  call  down  upon  it  the  consequences  of  insurrection  and  re- 
bellion. 

"  I  hope  and  trust  that  no  such  rash  counsel  will  prevail.  If, 
unhappily,  I  am  mistaken  in  this,  I  choose  to  shut  my  eyes  to  the 
consequences.  , 

"  Liberty  of  Conscience. 

"  Amongst  the  most  cherished  and  sacred  rights  secured  to  the 
citizen  of  the  United  States,  is  the  right  to  worship  God  according 
to  the  dictates  of  conscience.     ,     .     . 

"  Religion  was  left  a  matter  between  man  and  his  Maker,  and 
not  between  man  and  the  Government. 

"  But  here  arises  a  most  important  question,  —  a  question  per- 
haps that  has  never  yet  been  asked  or  fully  answered  in  this  coun- 
try, —  How  far  does  the  right  of  conscience  extend  ?  Is  there 
any  limit  to  this  right  ?  —  and  if  so,  where  shall  the  line  of  de- 
marcation be  drawn,  designating  that  which  is  not  forbidden  from 
that  which  is  V  This  is,  indeed,  a  most  important  question,  and, 
fi-om  the  tendency  of  the  times,  must  sooner  or  later  be  answered. 
I  cannot,  and  will  not,  on  this  occasion,  pretend  to  answer  this 
question  ;  but  will  venture  the  suggestion,  that  when  it  is  an- 
swered, the  same  rules  will  be  adopted  as  if  the  freedom  of  speech 
and  of  the  press  were  involved  in  the  argument. 

.  .  .  "  There  can  be  no  limit  beyond  which  the  mind  may 
not  dwell,  and  our  thoughts  soar  in  our  aspirations  after  truth. 
We  may  think  what  we  will,  beheve  what  we  will,  and  speak  what 
we  will,  on  all  subjects  of  speculative  theology.  .  .  .  But 
when  religious  opinions  assume  new  manifestations,  and  pass  from 
the  condition  of  mere  sentiment  into  overt  acts,  —  no  matter 
whether  they  be  acts  of  faith  or  not,  —  they  must  not  outrage  the 


92  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

opinions  of  the  civilized  world,  but,  on  the  other  hand,  must  con- 
form to  those  usages  established  by  law,  aud  which  are  believed  to 
underlie  our  very  civilization." 

In  the  same  Message,  the  Governor,  after  giving  his  views 
upon  the  national  topics  of  the  day,  fully  sustaining  the  Ad- 
ministration and  the  war,  proceeded  to  discuss  all  the  more 
prominent  subjects  of  local  interest  in  the  Temtory.  He 
referred  to  the  attempts  to  procure  the  admission  of  the  State 
of  Deseret  into  the  Union,  —  giving  it  as  his  opinion  that 
those  attempts  were  premature.  He  referred  to  provisions 
of  the  Organic  Act,  and  claimed  the  right  to  nominate  to  the 
Council  all  general  territorial  officers.  These  had  formerly 
been  elected  by  the  Legislature. 

He  recommended  a  thorough  revision  and  codification  of 
the  statutes ;  a  change  in  the  mode  of  voting ;  referred  to 
the  financial  condition  of  the  Territory  ;  adverted  to  the 
Indian  troubles ;  advised  the  organization  of  a  common- 
school  system,  and  closed  by  assuring  them  of  his  willingness 
and  desire  to  work  with  them  for  the  common  good  and  wel- 
fare of  the  people  of  the  Territory. 

The  question  of  polygamy  was  boldly  met  and  temper- 
ately discussed  in  this  Message,  and  the  people  warned 
against  the  consequences  of  disobedience  to  the  Act  of  Con- 
gress. Anything  less  than  this  on  the  part  of  the  Governor 
would  have  been  simply  a  neglect  of  duty. 

Yet  the  Mormons  were  very  indignant,  and  professed  to 
look  upon  that  portion  of  the  Message  as  exceedingly  hostile 
and  offensive  in  its  character.  Their  religion  had  been  at- 
tacked by  the  federal  authoi'ities  ! 

It  may  be  well  here  to  remark,  for  the  benefit  of  the  ten- 
der-footed upon  this  subject,  that  polygamy  is  no  part  of  the 
Mormon  religion,  so  far  as  the  same  has  any  history,  and  can 
be  distinguished  from  the  personal  edicts  of  Brigham  Young. 
It  is  not  only  not  permitted  but  explicitly  condemned  in  the 
"  Book  of  Mormon  "  and  the  "  Book  of  Doctrines  and  Cove- 
nants," which  are  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  of  Mormon- 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  98 

ism.  This  subject  is  more  fully  examined  in  another  chapter 
of  this  work. 

From  the  delivery  of  this  Message,  the  treatment  which 
the  Governor  received  at  the  hands  of  the  Mormons  was  en- 
tii'ely  changed.  From  respect  it  was  immediately  changed 
to  disrespect  and  contumely.  No  contemptuous  treatment 
was  too  mai'ked,  no  indignity  was  too  great,  to  be  heaped 
upon  him,  for  this  simple  performance  of  his  duty  as  a  sworn 
officer  of  the  United  States  Government. 

The  Message  was  never  printed  by  the  Legislature.  The 
Journals  did  not  even  show  that  the  Governor  ever  appeared 
before  that  body  for  any  purpose  whatever. 

The  fact  that  the  Message  was  not  published  having  been 
communicated  to  Washington,  a  resolution  was  introduced 
into  the  Senate  of  the  United  States  on  the  16th  of  January, 
1863,  instructing  the  Committee  on  Territories  to  inquire 
and  report  whether  the  publication  of  the  Message  of  the 
Governor  of  the  Territory  of  Utah  to  the  Territorial  Legis- 
lature had  been  suppressed,  and  if  so  by  what  causes,  and 
what  was  the  Message. 

In  response  to  this  resolution  Mr.  Wade,  chairman  of  the 
Committee,  on  the  13th  of  February,  submitted  a  Eeport, 
accompanied  by  a  resolution,  which  was  adopted,  that  one 
thousand  copies  of  the  Message  be  printed,  and  sent  to  the 
Governor  for  distribution. 

This  Report  of  the  Committee  was  less  complimentary  to 
the  Mormons  than  the  Message  itself. 

The  following  extracts  will  indicate  the  character  of  the 
document :  — 

"  In  pursuance  of  the  instruction  contained  in  this  resolution, 
yotir  committee  have  the  honor  to  report,  that  they  have  collected 
all  the  facts,  and  taken  all  the  testimony  within  their  reach,  —  the 
substance  of  which,  together  with  a  copy  of  the  Message,  is  here- 
with presented. 

"  These  sources  of  information  disclose  the  fact,  that  the  customs 
which  have  prevailed  in  all  our  other  Territories  in  the  govern- 


94  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

ment  of  public  affairs  have  had  but  little  toleration  in  the  Terri 
tory  of  Utah ;  but  in  their  stead  there  appears  to  be,  overriding 
all  other  influences,  a  sort  of  Jewish  theocracy,  graduated  to  the 
condition  of  that  Territory. 

"  This  theocracy,  having  a  supreme  head  who  governs  and 
guides  every  affair  of  imjiortance  in  the  Church,  and,  practically, 
in  the  Territory,  is  the  only  real  power  acknowledged  here,  and 
to  the  extension  of  whose  interests  every  person  in  the  Territory 
must  directly  or  indirectly  conduce.     .     .     . 

"  We  have  here  the  first  exhibition,  within  the  limits  of  the 
United  States,  of  a  Church  ruling  the  State.     •     .     . 

"  Another  opinion  —  the  subject  of  both  public  and  private 
teaching  —  is,  that  the  Government  of  the  United  States  will  not 
and  ought  not  to  stand.  They  make  a  difference  between  the 
Constitution  and  the  Government  of  the  United  States;  to  the 
Constitution  they  claim  to  be  very  loyal. 

.  .  .  "  Because  the  Governor,  in  his  Message,  has  animad- 
verted upon  some  of  the  customs  of  the  Mormons,  and  has  recom- 
mended that  steps  be  taken  to  Americanize  the  same,  he  has 
given  offence,  and  has  had  his  Message  suppressed. 

"  Polygamy  of  the  most  unlimited  character,  sanctioning  the  co- 
habitation of  a  man  with  the  mother  and  her  daughlei-s  indis- 
criminately, is  not  the  only  un-American  thing  among  them. 

.  .  .  "  The  Message,  on  examination,  is  found  to  contain 
nothing  that  should  give  offence  to  any  legislature  willing  to  be 
governed  by  the  laws  of  morality. 

"  It  is  the  opinion  of  your  Committee  that  the  Message  is  an 
able  exposition  of  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  people  in  that 
Territory,  and  as  such,  brought  down  the  censure  of  the  leaders 
of  the  Mormon  Church,  and  were  it  not  for  the  animadversions 
therein  contained,  it  would  not  have  been  suppressed." 

The  printing  and  distribution  of  the  Message  is  then  rec- 
ommended. 

During  the  session  of  the  Legislature  an  event  occurred 
which  caused  much  indignation  among  the  federal  officers, 
and  served  to  render  somewhat  mutual  the  feelings  of  hos- 
tility which  the  leading  saints  already  entertained.  This  was 
nothing  less  than  a  forgery  committed  in  the  Legislature  upon 
a  bill  relating  to  the  terms  of  one  of  the  District  Courts. 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  95 

The  facts  were  as  follows :  — 

The  Territory  was  divided  into  three  judicial  districts. 
The  First,  sometimes  called  the  Provo  District,  comprised  a 
number  of  counties  carved  out  of  the  centre  of  the  Territory. 
This  had  been  assigned  to  Judge  Drake.  The  Second,  called 
the  "  Cotton  District,"  was  assigned  to  Judge  Waite,  and 
consisted  of  the  three  southernmost  counties,  Beaver,  Iron, 
and  Washington.  The  Third  District,  Chief  Justice  Kin- 
ney's, comprised  the  northern  part  of  the  Territory,  includ- 
ing Salt  Lake  City. 

On  the  14th  of  January,  1863,  the  Legislature  passed  a 
bill,  which  was  signed  by  the  Governor,  changing  the  county 
seat  of  Washington  County  from  Washington  to  St.  George, 
and  in  the  same  bill  it  was  provided  that  the  United  States 
Court  for  the  transaction  of  territorial  business,  should  be 
held  at  St.  George,  on  the  third  Monday  of  May.  This 
time  was  the  same  as  that  provided  by  the  law  previously  in 
force. 

This  was  before  the  assignment  of  the  Judges  had  been 
made. 

After  Judge  Waite  had  been  assigned  to  the  Second  Dis- 
trict [in  M'hich  many  murders  had  been  committed,  and  the 
murderers  still  at  large],  the  Legislature  concluded  they  did 
not  want  court  held  in  that  district  until  fall.  They  accord- 
ingly passed  a  bill,  providing,  among  other  things,  for  hold- 
ing the  court  at  St.  George  on  the  third  Monday  of  October. 
But  as  they  had  already  passed  a  bill  fixing  the  term  of 
court  in  May,  and  as  the  Judge  preferred  to  hold  the  term  in 
May,  that  being  near  the  time  when  he  was  intending  to 
hold  court  for  the  transaction  of  United  States  business  in 
the  same  district,  the  Governor  declined  signing  the  second 
bill. 

Soon  after,  having  occasion  to  examine  the  first  bill  for 
another  purpose,  he  went  to  the  Secretary's  office  and  called 
for  the  bill,  and  behold,  the  word  May  had  been  erased,  and 
*he  ivord   October  inserted  instead  !     It  appeared  to  have 


06  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

been  done  by  the  same  hand  which  had  penned  the  body  of 
the  bill.  This  had  been  written  by  one  of  the  clerks  of  the 
House  of  Representatives.  The  Governor,  after  signing 
the  bill,  had  inadvertently  returned  it  to  the  Legislature,  and 
it  had  been  sent  from  that  body  to  the  Secretary's  office, 
where  it  should  have  been  sent  by  the  Governor.  It  had 
been  recorded  in  that  office  before  the  forgery  was  discov- 
ered. 

The  Governor  immediately  caused  the  record  to  be  cor- 
rected, changed  the  bill  back  from  October  to  May,  by  eras- 
ing the  word  "  October  "  and  interlining  the  word  "  May." 
He  then  made  a  statement  of  the  forgery  and  its  detection, 
over  his  own  signature,  on  the  margin  of  the  bill. 

He  then  sent  a  special  Message  to  the  Legislature,  calling 
their  attention  to  the  fact  that  a  forgery  had  been  committed ; 
but,  instead  of  taking  steps  to  ferret  out  the  guilty  party,  the 
Legislature  made  an  issue  of  fact  with  the  Governor,  and  en- 
deavored to  make  out  that  it  was  all  the  time  October,  and 
that  no  forgery  had  been  committed.  When  the  matter  was 
up  in  the  House  the  second  time,  one  member  actually  pro- 
duced a  paper  which  he  averred  was  the  original  draft,  and 
which  had  October  in  it.  And  this  in  the  face  of  the  fact, 
that  five  persons  had  seen  the  bill  in  the  Governor's  office 
when  the  word  May  was  in  it,  iand  that  the  bill  showed 
plainly,  upon  inspection,  that  it  had  been  changed ;  the  out- 
line of  the  letter  "  y,"  in  the  word  erased,  being  distinctly 
visible. 

Thus  the  Legislature,  by  their  collective  action,  implicated 
themselves  all  in  the  forgery. 

On  the  IGth  of  January  the  Legislature  adjoui'ned,  without 
printing  the  Governor's  Message,  or  sending  any  appropria- 
tion bills  for  his  signature. 

The  day  following,  "  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of 
Deseret "  met,  and  commenced  doing  business  under  Brig- 
ham  Young,  as  Governor.  A  Message  was  delivered,  and 
all  the  forms  of  legislation  gone  through  with  ;  in  reality,  this 


POLITICAL   HISTORY  CONTINUED.  97 

de  facto  government  was  the  only  one  for  which  the  Mor- 
mons maintained  even  the  show  of  respect. 

The  judicial  system  of  the  Territory  was  manifestly  vei'y 
defective,  and  as  constituted  under  the  Organic  Act  of  1850, 
as  the  same  had  been  construed  by  the  Federal  Judges,  was 
inadequate  to  the  administration  of  justice. 

The  greatest  difficulty  was  experienced  in  the  formation 
of  juries,  and  in  the  extraordinary  jurisdiction  assumed  by 
the  Probate  Judges,  all  of  whom  were  Mormons. 

The  jurisdiction  of  the  Probate  Court,  in  the  words  of 
the  Organic  Act,  was  to  be  "  as  prescribed  by  law."  Under 
this  provision  several  of  the  United  States  Judges  had  held 
that  it  was  competent  in  the  Legislature  to  confer  upon  the 
Probate  Courts  any  jurisdiction  they  pleased.  The  Moi'- 
mons,  never  behind  in  availing  themselves  of  all  advantages, 
had  accordingly  granted  to  the  Probate  Courts  concurrent 
jurisdiction  with  the  District  Courts,  in  all  cases  civil  and 
criminal. 

Again ;  the  juries  had  been  selected  by  these  courts  acting 
with  other  county  authorities,  and  it  was  contended  that  the 
United  States  Courts  could  only  try  causes  before  juries  thus 
selected.  •  . 

To  remedy  these  defects,  and  to  remove  all  doubt  as  to 
these  complicated  questions,  a  bill  was  drawn  by  Judge 
Waite,  for  an  Act  of  Congress  amendatory  of  the  Organic 
Act  of  1850.  It  provided  for  the  selection  of  United  States 
juries  by  the  Marshal,  under  the  direction  of  the  court,  as  in 
other  district  and  territorial  courts  of  the  United  States. 

The  question  of  jurisdiction  was  to  be  settled  by  an  ex- 
press provision  that  the  Probate  Court  should  have  no  juris- 
diction to  try  any  civil  action  whatsoever.  It  was  to  do  the 
usual  probate  business,  and  have  a  limited  criminal  jurisdic- 
tion, subject  to  appeal  to  the  District  Court.  The  bill  also 
provided  for  an  organization  of  the  militia  of  the  Temtory, 
under  the  Governor,  and  contained  several  other  wholesome 
and  salutary  provisions. 
7 


98  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

The  bill  was  carefully  drawn,  and  was  submitted  to  the 
inspection  of  his  as-ociate,  Judge  Drake,  and  of  Governor 
Harding,  —  Judge  Kinney  being  al)scnt  from  the  Territory. 
It  received  the  unqualified  approval  of  Drake  and  Harding, 
and,  with  their  indorsement  upon  it,  was  sent  to  "Washing- 
ton. In  due  time  it  was  introduced  in  Congress  by  Senator 
Browning,  and  referred  to  the  proper  committee. 

The  introduction  of  this  bill  was  the  signal  for  another 
outbreak.  The  news  was  telegraphed  to  Salt  Lake,  and  im- 
mediately Brigham  called  a  meeting  at  the  Tabernacle. 

The  meeting  was  held  on  the  3d  of  March,  1863.  No- 
tice having  beeu  extensively  circulated,  some  two  or  three 
thousand  persons  assembled,  excited  by  exaggerated  state- 
ments concerning  attempts  upon  the  part  of  the  federal 
officers  to  "  interfere  with  their  rights." 

Speeches  of  the  most  inflammatory  character  were  made 
at  this  meeting,  and  the  resentment  and  indignation  of  the 
ignorant  masses  of  the  people  were  excited  to  the  highest 
pitch.  The  following  will  serve  as  a  specimen  of  these 
harangues. 

Elder  John  Taylor  said  :  — 

"It  has  already  been  stateH  that  these  documents  speak  for 
themselves.  They  come  from  those  who  are  ostensibly  our 
guardians,  and  the  guardians  of  our  rights.  They  come  from 
men  who  ought  to  be  actuated  by  the  strictest  principles  of  honor, 
truth,  virtue,  integrity,  and  honesty,  and  whose  high  official  posi- 
tion ought  to  elevate  them  above  suspicion,  —  yet  what  are  the 
results  ? 

"  In  relation  to  the  Governor's  Message,  enough,  perhaps,  has 
already  been  said.     .     . 

"  We  had  a  right  to  look  for  a  friend  in  our  Governor,  who 
would,  at  least,  fairly  represent  us.  Instead,  we  have  had  a  most 
insidious  foe,  who,  through  misrepresentations,  base  insinuations, 
and  falsehood,  is  seeking  with  all  his  power,  privately  as  well  as 
officially,  not  only  to  injure  lis  before  the  Government,  but  as  well 
to  sap  the  very  foundations  of  our  civil  and  religious  liberties ;  he 
is,  in  fact,  in  the  furtherance  of  his  unhallowed  schemes,  seeking 


POLITICAL   HISTORY   COXTINUED.  99 

to  promote  anarchy  and  rebellion,  and  dabbling  in  your  blood. 
[Cries  of  '  bear,  hear.']  Such,  it  would  seem,  were  the  Gover- 
nor's feelings  and  intentions  when  he  concocted  his  Message,  and 
such  his  purposes  when  he  read  it  before  the  Legislature.  That 
document  was  not  hastily  written,  as  it  shows  upon  its  face  that 
it  had  been  well  digested,  and  every  word  and  sentence  carefully 
■weighed. 

.  .  .  "  That  he  is  the  most  vindictive  enemy  we  have,  is 
shown  by  the  statement  of  our  representatives  at  Washington. 

"  He  is  the  only  man,  it  would  seem,  who  is  industriously  striv- 
ing to  sap  the  interests  of  our  people,  and  to  injure  their  reputa- 
tion, and  yet,  as  our  Governor,  he  professes  to  feel  a  deep  interest 
in  our  welfare,  and  to  represent  our  wishes. 

"  Let  us,  for  a  short  time,  investigate  the  results  of  his  acts, 
should  his  purposes  be  successful,  leaving  the  allegations  of  treason 
from  our  consideration.  [It  was  contended  that  the  Governor 
and  Judges  had  committed  Treason  against  the  Territory."] 

"  We  have  thought  that  we  were  living  under  a  republican  form 
of  government,  and  had  the  right  of  franchise ;  that  we  had  the 
privilege  of  voting  for  whom  we  pleased,  and  of  thus  saying  whom 
we  would  have  represent  us ;  but  it  may  be  that  we  are  laboring 
under'  a  mistake,  and  that  it  is  but  a  political  illusion.  We  have 
likewise  thought  that  if  any  one  among  us  was  accused  of  crimes, 
it  was  his  privilege  to  be  tried  by  a  jury  of  his  peers,  among  whom 
he  had  lived,  who  would  undoubtedly  be  the  best  judges  of  his 
actions. 

"  We  have  further  been  of  the  opinion  that  while  acting  in  a 
military  capacity,  when  called  into  service  to  stand  in  defence  of 
our  country's  rights,  we  had  the  right  of  selecting  our  own  officers. 
We  have  always  had  this  privilege,  in  accordance  with  republican 
usage ;  but  we  can  do  so  no  longer  should  the  plotting  of  Gov- 
ernor Harding  and  our  Honorable  Judges  be  carried  into  effect. 
We  shall  be  deprived  of  franchise,  of  the  right  of  trial  by  an  im- 
partial jury,  and  shall  be  placed,  in  a  military  capacity,  under  the 
creatures  of  Governor  Harding,  or  of  his  successors.  In  other 
words,  we  shall  be  forever  deprived  of  all  the  rights  of  freemen, 
and  placed  under  a  military  despotism  ;  such  would  be  the  result 
of  the  passage  of  this  Act. 

"  Again,  in  regard  to  juries,  already  referred  to,  you  know  what, 
is  regards  this  matter,  the  usage  has  always  been.    The  Governor 


100  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

and  Judges  want  to  place  the  power  in  the  hands  of  the  United 
States  Marshal  of  selecting  such  jurors  as  he  pleases,  and  that, 
too,  without  reference  as  to  who  they  are,  or  whence  they  come. 
This  is  what  is  attempted  to  be  done  by  our  honorable  Judges  and 
Governor.  Your  rights  as  freemen,  and  your  liberties,  are  aimed 
at ;  and  you  are  to  be  disfranchised,  and  your  liberties  trampled 
under  foot,  by  strangers,  and  you  will  have  blacklegs  and  cut- 
throats sit  upon  your  juries.  Mr.  Harding  wants  to  select  his  own 
military,  and  have  officers  of  his  own  selection  to  lead  them,  and 
then  if  you  do  not  submit,  he  will  have  the  authority  to  say,  '  I 
will  make  you.'  [Uproarious  applause,  and  cries  all  over  the  house 
of  '  Can't  do  it.']  AVe  all  know  he  can't  do  it,  but  this  is  what  he 
is  aiming  at.  [Clapping  of  hands,  and  great  cheering.]  When 
these  rights  are  taken  away,  what  rights  have  we  left  ?  [Cries  of 
'  None.'] 

"  It  can  scarcely  be  credited  or  believed,  that  any  man  in  his 
position  could  so  far  degrade  himself  as  to  introduce  such  infamous 
principles,  and  it  is  equally  a  lamentable  fact  to  reflect  upon,  that 
men  holding  the  high  and  responsible  position  of  United  States 
Judges  could  so  far  forget  themselves  as  to  descend  to  such 
depravity,  corruption,  and  injustice.  [Applause.]  These  things 
are  so  palpable,  that  '  he  that  runneth  may  read,'  and  any  man 
with  five  grains  of  common  sense  can  readily  comprehend  them. 
It  is  for  you  to  say  whether  you  are  willing  to  sustain  such  men 
in  the  capacity  they  act  in,  or  not."  [Loud  clapping  of  hands, 
and  a  universal  and  emphatic  cry  of  "  No ! "  on  the  part  of  the 
audience.]  , 

Brigham  Young's  Speech. 

At  the  close  of  Elder  Taylor's  speech  Brigham  arose,  and 
on  advancing  to  the  speaker's  desk  was  greeted  with  vocifer- 
ous applause,  and  immediately  proceeded  to  address  the 
assemblage  as  follows  : — 

"  I  have  no  intention  of  delivering  a  lengthy  address,  but  while 
I  am  speaking  I  desire  the  audience  to  remain  quiet.  I  know 
well  your  feelings,  but  much  prefer  that  you  should  suppress  any 
demonstrations  of  applause  to  other  times  and  places,  when  you 
may  have  less  business  and  greater  leisure. 

"  You  have  just  heard  read  the  Message  of  Governor  Harding, 


POLITICAL  HISTORY   CONTINUED.  101 

delivered  to  the  last  Legislative  Assembly  of  this  Territory.  You 
will  readily  perceive  that  the  bread  is  buttered,  but  there  is  poison 
underneath.  When  be  came  to  Utah  last  July,  the  Governor 
sought  to  ingratiate  himself  into  the  esteem  of  our  prominent  citi- 
zens, with  whom  he  had  early  intercourse,  and  professed  great 
friendship  and  attachment  for  the  people  of  the  Territory.  He 
was  then  full  of  their  praises,  and  said  he  was  ready  to  declare 
that  he  would  stand  in  the  defence  of  polygamy,  or  that  he  should 
have  to  deny  the  Bible  ;  and  stated  that  he  had  told  the  President, 
prior  to  leaving  Washington,  that  if  he  were  called  upon  to  discuss 
the  question,  he  would  have  to  take  the  side  of  polygamy,  or  to 
renounce  the  authority  of  the  Scriptures. 

"  In  the  face  of  all  these  professions,  what  has  been  his  course  ? 
While  being  fair  of  speech,  and  specious  of  promise,  and  lavish 
in  his  expressions  of  good-will  toward  us,  he  has  been  insidiously 
at  work  to  prejudice  the  General  Government  against  us,  and  in 
the  secrecy  of  his  private  room  has  concocted  measures  which  he 
urged  upon  Congress  to  pass,  which,  if  successful,  would  deprive 
us  of  the  dearest  rights  of  freemen,  and  render  us  the  abject  sub- 
jects of  this  man,  who  has  been  sent  here  to  govern  the  Territory. 
Man,  did  I  say?  —  thing,  I  mean,  —  a  nigger-worshipper, -i- a 
black-hearted  abolitionist  is  what  he  is,  and  what  he  represents ; 
and  that  I  do  naturally  despise.  He  wants  to  have  the  telegraph 
torn  down,  and  the  mails  stopped  and  turned  by  the  way  of  Pan- 
ama. Do  you  acknowledge  this  man  Harding  for  your  Governor  ? 
[Voices  all  through  the  audience  responded,  '  No,  you  are  our 
Governor.']  Yes,  I  am  your  Governor ;  and  I  will  let  him  know 
that  I  am  Governor;  and  if  he  attempts  to  interfere  in  my  affairs, 
'  W^oe,  woe  unto  him  ! '  [Shaking  his  uplifted  fist  in  a  very  excited 
manner,  which  was  responded  to  with  loud  applause,  and  cries  of 
'  Yes,  you  are  our  Governor.'] 

"  Will  you  allow  such  a  man  to  remain  in  the  Territory? 
[Voices,  '  No  ;  put  him  out.']  Yes,  1  say  put  him  out.  Judges 
AA^iIte  and  Drake  are  perfect  fools,  and  the  tools  of  Governor 
Harding,  and  they  too  must  leave.  If  all  three  do  not  resign,  or  if 
the  President  does  not  remove  them,  the  people  must  attend  to  it. 

"  If  they  could  get  the  power,  as  they  want  to  do,  to  have  the 
Marshal  choose  jurors  of  cut-throats,  blacklegs,  soldiers,  and  des- 
peradoes from  California,  and  we  are  to  be  ti-ied  by  such  men, 
what  would  become  of  us  ? 


102  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

"  In  regard  to  the  war  now  desolating  the  country,  it  is  but  the 
fulfilment  of  the  prophecies  of  Joseph  Smith,  which  he  told  me 
thirty  years  ago.  Brother  Joseph  said  that  the  South  would  rise 
against  the  North,  and  the  North  against  the  South,  and  that 
they  would  fight  until  both  parties  were  destroyed ;  and  for 
my  part  I  give  it  God  speed ;  for  they  have  spilt  the  blood  of 
the  Prophet.  [To  which  the  audience  responded  vociferously, 
'  Amen ! '] 

"  I  would  like  to  live  in  peace  with  the  Government  of  the 
United  States,  but  have  no  desire  to  live  with  the  people  who 
have  brought  ruin  and  disgrace  upon  their  own  heads.  I  do  not 
wish  to  live  in,  or  have  anything  to  do  with  the  United  States ;  I 
will  have  a  free  and  independent  government  for  myself,  where  I 
may  live  and  enjoy  my  civil  and  religious  liberties.  [Loud  cries 
of  '  Amen,'  and  '  Yes,  yes,'  on  the  part  of  the  entire  assemblage.] 

"  When  our  rights,  and  the  protection  of  our  liberties  are  taken 
from  us,  what  is  there  remaining  ?  [Voices,  '  Nothing,'  '  Noth- 
ing.']    Yes,  service  to  despots,  —  service  to  tyrants." 

Brigbam  also  said  that  money  bad  been  appropriated  for 
th<*  purpose  of  turning  the  mail  by  the  way  of  Panama  ;  and 
these  men  were  not  above  taking  money  for  such  a  purpose, 
under  pretence  of  other  business. 

The  injustice  and  falsity  of  these  statements  concerning 
the  bill  introduced  into  Congress,  and  which  was  the  imme- 
diate cause  of  this  outbreak,  will  be  manifest,  when  it  is 
stated  that  so  far  from  authoi-izing  soldiers  to  sit  as  jurymen, 
it  was  expressly  prohibited  in  the  bill  itself.  Again ;  the 
right  of  suffrage  was  actually  extended  by  the  bill,  because, 
while  by  one  section  the  militia  officers  were  to  be  appointed 
by  the  Governor,  the  bill  in  other  sections  j^rovided  that 
nearly  all  civil  officers  of  the  Territory,  who  were  before 
elected  by  the  Legislature,  should  be  elected  by  the  people. 

The  effect  of  the  bill  would  have  been,  to  enable  the  peo- 
ple, when  they  became  generally  dissatisfied  with  the  spirit- 
ual tyranny  to  which  they  were  submitting,  as  many  of  them 
were  already,  to  throw  off  the  yoke  of  despotism,  by  having 
every  question  that  might  arise  fairly  and  impartially  adju- 


POLITICAL  HISTORY   CONTINUED.  103 

dicated  upon  in  the  courts.  This  was  foreseen  by  Brigham. 
He  saw  that  he  was  about  to  lose  the  powerful  enginery  of 
the  judicial  system  of  the  Territory,  then  under  his  control. 
Hence  the  demonstration. 

Tliere  are  but  two  ways  in  which  this  theocratic  despotism 
can  be  met  and  overthrown.  One  is,  by  the  people  of  the 
Territory,  aided  by  some  such  legislation  as  that  proposed. 
The  other  is  by  the  strong  arm  of  military  power.  The  for- 
mer would  be  more  congenial  to  our  institutions. 

Time  only  can  determine  which  must  be  resorted  to.  Doubt- 
less the  employment  of  force  will  become  necessary  in  either 
case, — as  the  course  taken  by  Young  and  his  associates  on 
this  occasion  shows  that  a  peaceable  remedy  will  be  forcibly 
resisted. 

After  listening  to  such  speeches,  the  audience  were,  of 
course,  ready  to  adopt  or  approve  of  anything ;  and  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions,  prepared  for  the  occasion,  were  passed 
witliout  a  dissenting  voice  :  — 

"  Resolved,  That  we  consider  the  attack  made  upon  us  by  His 
Excellency  Governor  Harding,  wherein  our  loyalty  is  impugned, 
as  base,  wicked,  unjust,  and  false  ;  and  he  knew  it  to  be  so  when 
uttered. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  consider  the  attempt  to  possess  himself  of 
all  military  authority  and  dictation,  by  appointing  all  the  militia 
officers,  is  a  stretch  of  military  despotism,  hitherto  unknown  in  the 
annals  of  our  Republic. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  consider  his  attempt  to  control  the  selection 
of  juries  as  so  base,  unjust,  and  tjTannical,  as  to  deserve  the  con- 
tempt of  all  free  men. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  consider  the  action  of  Judges  Waite  and 
Drake,  in  assisting  the  Governor  to  pervert  justice,  and  violate  the 
sacred  palladium  of  the  people's  rights,  as  subversive  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  justice,  degrading  to  their  high  calling,  and  repulsive  to 
the  feelings  of  honest  men. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  consider  that  a  serious  attack  has  been 
made  upon  the  liberties  of  this  people,  and  that  it  not  only  affects 
as  as  a  Territory,  but  is  a  direct  assault  upon  Republican  princi- 


101  POLITICAL  HISTORY   CONTINUED. 

pies  in  our  own  nation  and  tliroujiliout  the  world ;  and  that  we 
cannot  either  tamely  submit  to  be  disfranchised  ourselves,  nor 
witness,  without  protest,  the  assassin's  dagger  plunged  into  the 
very  vitals  of  our  national  institutions. 

"  Resolved,  That  while  we  will,  at  all  times,  honor  and  magnify 
all  wholesome  laws  of  our  country,  and  desire  to  be  subservient 
to  their  dictates,  and  the  equitable  administration  of  justice,  we 
will  resist,  in  a  proper  manner,  every  attempt  upon  the  liberties, 
guaranteed  by  our  fathers,  whether  made  by  insidious  foes  or 
open  traitors. 

'*  Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  by  the  meeting  to 
wait  upon  the  Governor,  and  Judges  Waite  and  Drake,  to  request 
them  to  resign  their  offices  and  leave  the  Territory. 

"  Resolved,  That  John  Taylor,  Jetu  Clinton,  and  Orson  Pratt, 
Sen.,  be  that  committee. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  petition  the  President  of  the  United  States 
to  remove  Governor  Harding,  and  Judges  Waite  and  Drake,  and 
to  appoint  good  men  in  their  stead." 

The  following  is  the  petition  to  the  President,  which  was 
signed  by  several  thousand  persons  :  — 

"  To  His  Excellency  Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of  the  United 
States: — 

"  Sir,  — We,  your  petitioners,  citizens  of  the  Territory  of  Utah, 
respectfully  represent  that, 

"  Whereas,  From  the  most  reliable  information  in  our  posses- 
sion, we  are  satisfied  that  His  Excellency  Stephen  S.  Harding, 
Governor,  Charles  B.  Waite  and  Thomas  J.  Drake,  Associate 
Justices,  are  strenuously  endeavoring  to  create  mischief  and  stir 
up  strife  between  the  people  of  the  Territory  of  Utah  and  the 
troops  now  in  Camp  Douglas,  (situated  within  the  limits  of  Great 
Salt  Lake  City,)  and,  of  far  graver  import  in  our  nation's  diffi- 
culties, between  the  people  of  the  aforesaid  Territory  and  the 
Government  of  the  United  States : 

"  Therefore,  We  respectfully  petition  your  Excellency  to  forth- 
with remove  the  aforesaid  persons  from  the  offices  they  now  hold, 
ind  to  appoint  in  their  places  men  who  will  attend  to  tlie  duties 
of  their  offices,  honor  their  appointments,  and  regard  the  rights 
of  all,  attending  to  their  own  affairs  and  leaving  alone  the  affairs 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  105 

of  others;  and  in  all  tbeir  conduct  demeaning  themselves  as  honor- 
able citizens  and  officers  worthy  of  commendation  by  yourself, 
our  Government,  and  all  good  men  ;  and  for  the  aforesaid  removals 
and  appointments  your  petitioners  will  continue  most  respectfully 
to  pray. 

"  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  Territory  of  Utah,  March  3,  1863." 

The  best  reply  to  the  charges  contained  in  the  foregoing 
petition,  is  the  counter-petition  sent  to  the  President  by  the 
military  officers  of  General  Connor's  command,  of  which  the 
following  is  a  copy :  — 

"  Headquarters,   Column  for  Utah,  Camp  Douglas,  I 
Utah  Territory,  near  Salt  Lake  City,  March  8,  1863. 1 

"  To  His  Excellency  Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of  the  United 
States  :  — 

"  It  is  an  unusual  proceeding  for  officers  of  the  army  to  join  in 
representing  to  the  Government  their  knowledge  of  facts  and 
opinion  of  proceedings,  having  reference  to  civil  authority,  or  to 
the  actions  of  the  people  for  expressing  their  displeasure  at  the 
conduct  of  their  officers. 

"  The  condition  of  affairs  in  the  Territory  of  Utah,  however, 
and  the  result  of  this  condition  of  affairs,  which  culminated  in  a 
mass  meeting  in  Salt  Lake  City  on  the  3d  inst.,  in  our  opinion 
demands  from  us  a  respectful  statement  to  your  Excellency  of  the 
matter  having  allusion  to  ourselves,  simply  as  an  act  of  duty  we 
owe  to  our  Government. 

"  We  do  not  propose  to  inquire  into  recommendations  affecting 
the  laws  of  the  Territory,  made  by  the  Governor  and  Associate 
Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Utah.  The  Government  must 
know,  as  regards  the  justice  or  injustice  of  the  proposed  amend- 
ments to  existing  laws,  made  by  the  officers  above  named. 

"  But  when  the  community  residing  in  Salt  Lake  City  solemnly 
declare  in  their  petition  to  your  Excellency,  that  Governor  Hard- 
ing, and  Judges  Waite  and  Drake  are  studiouslj^  endeavoring  to 
create  mischief  and  stir  up  strife  between  the  people  of  the  Terri- 
tory and  the  troops  now  at  Camp  Douglas  (eituated  within  the 
hmits  of  Salt  Lake  City),  they  simply  assert  a  base  and  unquali- 
6ed  falsehood. 

"  On  the  contrary,  it  has  been  the  aim  of  these  gentlemen  to 


106  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

preserve  friendly  relations  between  the  people  of  Utah  and  the 
troops,  who  liave  also  labored  to  the  same  end,  now  stationed  at 
Camp  Douglas. 

"  And  further;  during  a  period  of  nearly  five  months,  we  know 
that  Governor  Harding,  and  Judges  Drake  and  "Waite  '  have  at- 
tended to  the  duties  of  their  offices,  honored  their  appointments, 
regarded  the  rights  of  all,  attended  to  their  own  affairs,'  and  have 
not  disturbed  or  interfered  with  the  alfairs  of  others,  outside  of 
their  legitimate  duty  to  the  Government ;  '  and  in  all  their  con- 
duct,' His  Excellency  Governor  Harding,  and  Judges  Drake  and 
Waite,  have,  during  our  acquaintance  with  them,  '  demeaned 
themselves  as  honorable  citizens,  and  odicers  worthy  of  commen- 
dation by  your  Excellency,  our  Government,  and  all  good  men.' 

"  And  we  further  represent  to  your  Excellency  that  these  offi- 
cers have  been  true  and  faithful  to  the  Government,  and  fearless 
in  the  discharge  of  their  duties  to  all.  They  have,  on  all  proper 
occasions,  spoken  plainly  to  the  i)eople  of  their  duty.  The}-  have 
not  been  subservient  to  any  person  or  persons,  and  they  stand 
proudly  preeminent  as  in  contrast  with  other  officers  who  have 
represented  in  the  past,  and  who  do  now  represent,  the  Federal 
Government  in  this  Territory. 

"  Our  respectful  opinion  is,  that  there  is  no  good  and  true  cause 
for  the  removal  of  His  Excellency  Governor  Harding,  and  Judges 
Drake  and  Waite,  from  the  offices  they  now  hold. 

"  With  much  respect,  we  have  the  honor  to  remain  your  Excel- 
lency's obedient  servants,  — 

"  P.  Edward  Connor,  Colonel  3d  Infantry,  California  Volun- 
teers, conmianding  Distiict  of  Utah  ;  Geo.  S.  Evans,  Colonel  2d 
Cavalry,  Cal.  Vol. ;  P.  A.  Gallagher,  Itlajor  3d  Infantry,  C.  V. ; 
J.  M.  Williamson,  Surgeon,  2d  Cavalry,  C.  Y'. ;  Robert  K.  Reid, 
Surgeon  3d  Infantry,  C.  V. ;  George  Wallace,  Capt.  and  Asst. 
Q.  M.  U.  S.  A. ;  Thomas  B.  Gately,  1st  Lieut,  and  Reg.  Q.  M. ; 
William  L.  Ustick,  1st  Lieut,  and  Adjt.  3d  Infantry,  and  A.  A.  A. 
G. ;  T.  S.  Harris,  1st  Lieut,  and  Adjt.  2d  Cavalry,  C.  V.  ;  Henry 
R.  Miller,  2d  Lieut,  and  Reg.  C.  S.,  2d  Cavalry,  C.  V. ;  F.  A. 
Peel,  2d  Lieut,  and  Reg.  Q.  M.  2d  Cavalry,  C.  V. ;  Charles  Tup- 
per,  Captain  3d  Infantry,  C.  V.;  John  B.  Urmy,  Captain 
3d  Infantry,  C.  V. ;  Samuel  N.  Hoyt,  Captain  3d  Infantry, 
C.  V. ;  David  Black,  Captain  3d  Infantry,  C.  V. ;  S.  P.  Smith, 
Captain  2d  Cavalry,  C.  V.;    Daniel  McLane,  Captain  2d  Cav- 


•  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  107 

airy,  C.  V. ;  George  F.  Price,  Captain  2d  Cavalry,  C.  V. ; 
David  J.  Berry,  Captain  2d  Cavalry,  C.  V.;  Josiah  Hosmer,  1st 
Lieut.  3d  Infantry,  C.  V. ;  James  W.  Stillman,  1st  Lieut.  3d  In- 
fantry, C.  V.  i(,  Lysander  Washburn,  2d  Lieut.  3d  Infantry,  C.  V. ; 
Michael  McDermott,  1st  Lieut.  3d  Infantry,  C.  V. ;  John  Quinn, 
1st  Lieut.  2d  Cavalry,  C.  V. ;  Cyrus  D.  Clark,  1st  Lieut.  2d  Cav- 
alry, C.  V. ;  Francis  Honeyman,  2d  Lieut.  3d  Infantry,  C.  V. ; 
S.  E.  Joslyn,  2d  Lieut.  3d  Infantry,  C.  V. ;  James  Finnei-ty,  2d 
Lieut.  3d  Infantry,  C.  V. ;  Edward  Ingham,  2d  Lieut.  3d  Infantry, 
C.  V. ;  Anthony  Ether,  2d  Lieut.  2d  Cavalry,  C.  Y. ;  J.  Bradley, 
2d  Lieut.  2d  CavaL-y,  C.  V. ;  Geo.  D.  Conrad,  2d  Lieut.  2d  Cav- 
alry, C.  V."  * 

But  to  return  to  the  meeting,  and  subsequent  proceed- 
ings :  — 

The  next  morning,  the  Committee  appointed  to  wait  upon 
the  officei's  and  "  request "  them  to  resign  and  leave  the  Ter- 
ritory, called  upon  Governor  Harding,  at  his  residence,  and 
presented  him  with  a  copy  of  the  "  Deseret  News,"  contain- 
ing the  reported  proceedings  of  the  meeting. 

The  Governor  treated  them  with  much  courtesy,  and  after 
examining  the  paper,  addressed  the  Committee,  as  follows :  — 

"  Gentlemen,  I  believe  I  understand  this  matter  perfectly.  You 
may  go  back  and  tell  your  constituents  that  I  will  not  resign  my 
office,  and  will  not  leave  this  Territory,  until  it  shall  please  the 
President  to  recall  me.  I  came  here  a  messenger  of  peace  and 
good-will  to  your  people,  but  I  must  confess  that  my  opinions  have 
changed  in  many  respects.  But  I  came  also,  sirs,  to  discharge  my 
duties  honestly  and  faithfully  to  the  Government,  and  I  intend  to 
do  so  to  the  last.  It  is  in  your  power  to  do  me  personal  violence, 
—  to  shed  my  blood ;  but  this  will  not  deter  me  from  my  pur- 
pose. If  the  President  can  be  made  to  believe  that  I  have  been 
unfaithful  to  the  trust  he  confided  to  me,  he  will  doubtless  remove 
me ;  and  I  then  shall  be  glad  to  return  to  my  home  in  the  States, 
and  will  do  so,  carrying  with  me  no  unjust  resentments  towards 
you  or  any  one  else. 

"  But  I  will  not  be  driven  away  ;  I  will  not  cowardly  abandon 

*  The  above  embraces  all  the  commissioued  officers  then  stationed  at 
Camp  Douglas. 


108  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

my  post.  I  may  be  in  clanger  in  staying ;  but  my  purpose  is  fixed. 
I  desire  to  have  no  trouble ;  I  am  anxious  to  live  and  again  meet 
my  family,  —  but  if  necessary,  an  administrator  can  setde  my 
affau-s. 

"  Your  allegations  in  this  paper  are  false,  —  without  the  shadow 
of  truth.  You  call  my  Message  insulting,  and  you  dare  not  print 
it  for  fear  your  people  may  read  it  for  themselves.  To  say  that  I 
have  AVTonged  you  when  I  said  that  you  are  disloyal,  is  simply 
preposterous.  Your  own  people  —  your  public  teachers  and  bish- 
Ojjs  —  admit  the  fact. 

"  Let  me  say  to  you  in  conclusion,  —  and  as  this  is  said  to  be  a 
land  of  prophets,  I  too  will  prophesy,  —  If,  while  in  the  discharge 
of  my  duties,  one  drop  of  my  blood  be  shed  by  your  ministers  of 
vengeance,  that  it  will  be  avenged,  and  not  one  stone  or  adobe  in 
this  city  will  be  left  upon  another.  I  have  now  done,  and  you  un- 
derstand me." 

'  During  this  reply  the  Committee  sat  quiet,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Elder  Taylor,  who  several  times  attempted  to  make 
some  explanation ;  but  the  Governor  refused  to  hear  him,  and 
went  through  with  his  remarks  without  stopping  to  listen,  or 
reply  to  any  new  matter. 

Elder  Taylor  then  turned  to  Judge  Drake,  and  remarked 
that  be  might  consider  the  resolutions  as  addressed  also  to 
him. 

The  Judge  responded  as  follows :  — 

"  The  communications  you  have  made  are  of  some  importance, 
*and  as  they  are  intended  to  affect  me,  I  desire  to  say  something 
before  you  go. 

"  It  is  no  small  thing  to  request  a  citizen  to  leave  his  country. 
Are  you  aware  of  the  magnitude  or  of  the  baseness  of  what  you 
have  undertaken  ?  I  deny  that  you  have  any  cause  for  such  con- 
duct toward  me.  I  am  an  American  citizen,  and  as  such  have  a 
right  to  go  to  every  part  of  the  Republic.  I  have  the  right  to 
petition,  or  ask  the  Government  to  pass  laws,  or  to  amend  them. 
You,  Taylor  and  Pratt,  are  men  of  experience,  and  reputed  to  be 
men  of  learning,  and  ought  to  know  better  than  to  insult  a  man 
by  such  means. 

"  It  is  mean  and  contemjitible.     On  your  part,  Taylor,  a  for- 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  109 

eigner,  it  is  impudence  unequalled  ;  and  Pratt,  a  citizen,  ought  to 
know  better  than  to  trample  on  the  rights  of  a  citizen  by  engaging 
in  such  a  dirty  enterprise.  Your  resolutions  are  flilse,  and  those 
who  drafted  them  knew  them  to  be  so ;  and  I  am  inlbrmed  that  in 
the  meeting  at  the  Tabernacle,  Brigham  Young  called  me  a  fool, 
and  a  tool  of  the  Govei-nor.  [Here  Taylor  admitted  that  such 
was  the  fact.] 

"  Go  back  to  Brigham  Young,  your  master,  —  that  embodiment 
of  sin  and  shame  and  disgust,  —  and  tell  him  that  I  neither  fear  him, 
nor  love  him,  nor  hate  him,  —  that  I  utterly  despise  him.  Tell 
him,  whose  tools  and  tricksters  you  are,  that  I  did  not  come  here 
by  his  permission,  and  that  I  will  not  go  away  at  his  desire,  or  by 
his  directions.  I  have  given  no  cause  of  offence  to  any  one.  I 
have  not  entered  a  Mormon's  house  since  I  came  here ;  your 
wives  and  daughters  have  not  been  disturbed  by  me,  and  I  have 
not  even  looked  upon  your  concubines  and  lewd  women. 

"  I  am  no  skulk  from  the  punishment  of  crimes.  I  tell  you,  if 
you,  or  the  man  whom  you  so  faithfully  serve,  attempt  to  interfere 
with  my  lawful  business,  you  will  meet  with  trouble  of  a  character 
you  do  not  expect. 

"  A  horse-thief  or  a  murderer  has,  when  arrested,  a  right  to 
speak  in  court ;  and  unless  in  such  capacity,  or  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, don't  you  ever  dare  to  speak  to  me  again." 

The  Committee  rose  to  depart,  and  one  of  them  said,  "  "We. 
have  our  opinions."  "  Yes,"  replied  the  Judge,  "  thieves 
and  murderers  can  have  opinions;"  and  thus  closed  the  in- 
terview. 

The  Committee  then  proceeded  to  call  on  Judge  "Waite  at 
his  residence,  where  they  were  received  politely  and  with 
due  consideration.  In  answer  to  their  request  for  his  resig- 
nation and  withdrawal  from  the  Territory,  he  replied  as  fol- 
lows :  — 

"  To  comply  with  your  wishes,  gentlemen,  under  such  circum- 
stances, would  be  to  admit,  impliedly  at  least,  one  of  two  things, 
—  either  that  I  was  sensible  of  having  done  something  wrong,  or 
that  I  was  afraid  to  remain  at  my  post  and  perform  my  duty. 

"  I  am  not  conscious  either  of  guilt  or  fear.  I  must  therefore 
respectfully  decline  to  accede  to  your  request" 


110  POLITICAL  HISTORY  COXTDfUED. 

These  replies  were  published  in  California,  and  in  the 
Eastern  papers,  and  gave  general  satisfaction.  The  people 
rejoiced  that  at  last  the  Government  had  representatives  in 
Utah  who  could  neither  be  wheedled  nor  bullied  out  of  their 
rights,  nor  frightened  from  the  performance  of  their  duty. 

In  Utah  the  excitement  for  a  time  ran  high,  and  doubtless 
nothing  but  the  presence  of  the  military  saved  the  federal 
officers  from  personal  violence. 

The  state  of  popular  feeling  there  is  well  shown  by  the 
following  extracts  from  the  correspondence  of  the  "  Chicago 
Tribune":  — 

"  Excitement  ran  high,  and  groups  of  men  were  to  be  seen  on 
the  corners  of  the  various  streets,  busily  engaged  in  canvassing 
the  subject,  their  earnest  gestures  and  eager  attitudes  portraying 
the  depth  and  intensity  of  the  frenzied  feeling  which  actuated 
them. 

"  One  of  the  Judges  sought  to  be  ostracised  (Judge  Waite)  was 
accosted,  while  passing  quietly  along  the  sidewalli,  by  a  group  of 
excited  men,  and  threats  of  an  alarming  character  made  use  of  to 
intimidate  him. 

.  .  .  "The  few  ' gentiles '  resident  here  were  also  to  be  ob- 
served in  earnest  discussion  of  the  question,  and  with  compressed 
lip  and  countenance,  on  which  '  thought  sat  sedate,'  awaited,  cold 
and  determined,  the  approach  of  coming  events.  I  opine  that 
many  a  bowie  and  revolver  were  hastily  examined  and  adjuste(J, 
of  which  the  passer-by  had  no  thought  or  knowledge,  which,  in  an 
emergency,  might  have  been  made  useful. 

"  It  was  a  spectacle  of  true  courage  to  see  these  federal  officers, 
clothed  with  important  duties,  stand  up  and  assert  their  rights, 
when  they  knew  but  too  well  that  this  '  request '  upon  the  part 
of  the  meeting  and  the  Committee  had  a  far  more  grave  signifi- 
cance, if  that  request  were  not  complied  with. 

"  They  have  been  called  on  by  a  number  of  citizens  and  gentle- 
men since  the  visit  of  the  Committee,  and  have  received  but  one 
expression  of  opinion  as  to  what  has  passed ;  and  that  is,  that  the 
proceedings  throughout  were  an  outrage,  and  only  intended  to  get 
rid  of  men  who  cannot  be  used  against  the  interest  of  the  General 
Government,  and  whose  fidelity  to  duty  makes  them  alike  hated 
and  feared  by  the  Mormon  leaders." 


POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED.  Ill 

The  following,  from  the  same  correspondence,  will  show 
the  conduct  of  Young  during  this  emergency  :  — 

"  While  the  objects  of  all  this  wrath  pursue  the  even  tenor  of 
their  way,  and  sleep  soundly,  with  scarce  a  casement  barred,  un- 
mindful of  the  threatened  storm  without,  yet  not  so  with  him, 
'  the  Lord's  Anointed,'  who  appears  to  dream  dreams  and  see 
visions,  that  to  his  distempered  fancy  seem  to  foreshadow  the 
'handwriting  on  the  wall,'  at  the  gi'eat  day  of  his  judgment  which 
is  to  come.  Like  unto  the  great  magician,  the  famous  Fakir,  who 
upon  a  time,  by  his  incantation,  raised  a  demon  which  he  could 
not  control,  which  would  not  '  lay '  at  the  conqueror's  command, 
and  from  which  he  fled  in  dismay  ;  so,  in  the  present  instance,  the 
'  Lion  of  the  Lord '  is  sorely  affrighted  at  the  hideous  aspect  of  the 
devil  ('  of  a  muss ')  he  has  raised,  which,  he  has  the  sagacity  to  see, 
may  not '  down  '  at  his  bidding,  but  may  return  to  plague  the  in- 
ventor. 

"  There  is  abundant  evidence  to  show  that  he  is  alarmed  at  his 
own  creation,  and  foreseeing  that  he  has  provoked  justice,  in- 
censed mercy,  seeks  to  guard  against  the  retribution  which  he 
knows  the  offended  majesty  of  loyalty  and  law  should  visit  upon 
him, 

"  The  night  succeeding  the  action  of  the  mass  meeting,  some 
fifty  armed  sentinels  or  guards  were  on  duty,  in  and  about  Brig- 
ham's  premises,  which  number  has  since  been  augmented  to  sev- 
eral hundreds,  a  portion  of  whom  serve  as  pickets,  or  night-patrol, 
on  the  different  streets  leading  toward  Camp  Douglas.  It  has 
been  currently  reported  that  orders  have  been  issued  to  arrest 
Brigham  and  his  counsellors,  and  hence  these  precautionary  meas- 
ures to  guard  against  any  sudden  inroad  of  troops  from  Col.  Con- 
nor's command.     .     .     . 

"  On  the  8th  inst.,  the  Sabbath  succeeding  the  date  of  the  mass 
meeting,  Brigham  dehvered  a  very  treasonable  and  violent  ha- 
rangue in  the  Tabernacle,  to  an  immense  audience,  which  filled 
almost  to  suffocation  that  capacious  structure.  .  .  .  '  We  have 
always,'  he  said,  '  done  everything  in  our  power  to  show  our  loy- 
alty. Is  there  anything  that  could  be  asked  that  we  would  not 
do  ?  Yes ;  let  the  present  Administration  ask  us  for  a  thousand 
jnen,  or  even  five  hundred,  and  I  'd  see  them  damned  first,  and 
then  they  could  n't  have  them !     What  do  you  think  of  that  ? 


112  POLITICAL  HISTORY  COXTIXUED. 

[Loud  cries  of  "  Good,  good  !  "  and  great  applause.]  We  have 
liars,  murderers,  and  thieves  among  us,  who  are  watching  us,  to 
report  something  against  our  loyalty.  Their  object  is  to  send 
another  army  here  to  "  wipe  us  out "  ;  but  let  me  tell  them  that 
cannot  be  done  ;  "  they  can't  come  it,"  —  putting  his  thumb  to  his 
nose,  and  making  the  peculiar  gyrating  movement  with  the  fin- 
gers, so  very  expressive  among  rowdies  and  shoulder-hitters.  At 
this  antic,  a  long,  and  loud,  and  universal  shout  and  laughter  went 
up  from  all  parts  of  the  house,  joined  with  clapping  of  hands,  and 
stamping  of  the  feet,  in  one  general  din  and  uproar. 

"  '  It  was  said  that  we  were  disloyal  because  we  burned  some 
seventy  government  wagons,  at  the  time  Johnston's  army  came 
here.  Well,  let  me  ask,  what  the  devil  were  they  doing  out  here  f 
Coming  here  to  destroy,  and  wipe  us  from  the  face  of  the  earth ; 
and  we  only  took  and  destroyed  some  of  their  good  things,  so  that 
they  had  to  gnaw  mules'  bones,  and  eat  cattle  which  had  frozen  to 
death ;  that 's  what  they  did. 

"  '  I  swear  some,  my  brethren  and  sisters ;  but  it  is  always  in  the 
pulpit,  —  never  anywhere  else.' 

"  Following  Brigham  came  '  brother  Heber,'  a  large,  gross  man, 
bald-headed,  and  with  a  harsh  and  disagi-eeable  voice,  and  appar- 
ently fast  ajiproaching  the  age  of  '  the  lean  and  slippered  panta- 
loon.' His  remarks  were  in  the  main  but  a  re-hash  of  those  made 
by  Brigham,  save  in  one  or  two  noticeable  points,  as  follows :  — 
'  They  say  I  am  a  secessionist,  but  that 's  a  lie.  Then  they  say  I 
have  more  than  one  wife ;  well,  I  have  several  wives,  and  lots  of 
children,  and  by  the  help  of  the  Lord  I  '11  have  many  more  of 
them ! ' 

"  Speaking  about  anticipated  trouble  with  the  General  Govern- 
ment, he  said :  —  '  The  entire  power  of  the  United  States  cannot 
destroy  us,  for  the  Lord  will  fight  our  battles.' 

"  Brigham  fears  Arrest. 

"  Yesterday  Col.  Connor  rode  into  the  city,  and  called  on  Judge 
Waite  at  his  residence,  and  made  a  stay  of  perhaps  an  hour  or  so. 
Immediately  after  his  departure,  a  signal  of  distress  was  hastily 
thrown  to  the  breeze,  from  a  small  flag-staff  on  Brigham's  '  Lion 
House.'  .  .  .  Immediately  a  commotion  was  seen,  and  soon 
armed  men  began  to  pour  along  the  different  streets,  and  the 
report  was  carried,  as  on  the  wings  of  lightning,  to  the  uttermost 


POLITICAL  HISTORY    CONTINUED.  113 

parts  of  the  city,  tliat  an  order  was  beinj:!;  made  out  for  the  arrest  of 
Brigham  and  his  counsellors,  and  Uiat  Col.  Connor  had  been  down 
to  make  .arrangements  for  enforcing  the  writ.  Men  with  nmskets 
and  rifles,  —  some  few  with  antiquated  swords,  —  of  all  ages,  from 
the  brawny  youth  to  the  old  white-haired  sexagenarian,  came 
pouring  along,  singly  and  in  groups,  by  twos,  by  threes,  and  the 
half-  dozen  or  more,  pressing  hurriedly  on  towards  Brigham's 
premises,  zealous,  and  ready  to  yield  up  life,  if  need  be,  in  de- 
fence of  the  '  Prophet  of  the  Lord.'  Altogether  some  two  thou- 
sand '  citizen  soldiery '  collected,  and  stood  guard  during  the 
watches  of  the  night,  over  the  beloved  Brigham  and  his  harem. 
Verily,  '  The  wicked  flee  Avhen  no  man  pursueth.'  " 

That  Brigham  really  feared  arrest  at  this  time,  and  be- 
lieved that  a  movement  was  on  foot  for  that  purpose,  is  evi- 
dent from  the  following,  taken  from  the  "  Latter  Day  Saints' 
Millennial  Star,"  published  in  London.  It  is  a  portion  of  a 
letter  written  for  that  magazine  by  David  O.  Calder,  a  clerk 
in  the  titliiiig-office  :  — 

"  Ameeica.  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  March  13th,  1863.  ' 
"  President  G.  Q.  Cannon  : 

"Dear  Brother,  —  You  of  course  have  learned  through  the 
New  York  press  of  our  '  expected  collision  between  the  military 
and  citizens  of  Utah,'  and  will  learn  through  Capt.  Hooper,  (he 
being  just  informed  by  telegraph  to  write  to  you,)  that  compara- 
tive peace  is  restored.  I  shall  now  give  you  some  details  of  the 
trouble. 

"  As  you  are  aware,  we  have  been  of  the  opinion  that  the 
mission  of  he  troops  despatched  from  California  last  year  was  not 
altogether  to  be  confined  to  the  guarding  of  the  mail  and  tele- 
graph lines,  and  the  protection  of  the  California  emigration,  and 
consequently  have  been  watchful  of  their  proceedings;  the  more 
so,  that  they  made  their  winter-quarters  within  the  city  limits,  and 
on  one  of  the  most  commanding  benches  above  the  city,  instead  of 
being  distributed  at  the  several  posts  along  the  line  of  travel. 

"  We  also  have  been  made  acquainted  with  the  doings  of  Gov- 
ernor Harding,  and  Judges  Waite  and  Drake  ;  that  they  were 
corresponding  with  the  authorities  at  Washington,  and  movmg 
everything  that  could  be  moved  to  bring  the  army  here  in  con- 
8 


114  POLITICAL  HISTORY   CONTINUED. 

tact  with  the  people,  and  to  have  the  "War  Department  send  on 
two  or  three  thousand  more  troops. 

"  These  and  other  movements  compelled  the  citizens  to  be  on 
their  guard,  and  prepared  for  any  emergency.  On  Monday  last, 
a  reliable  person  overheard  Colonel  Connor  and  Judge  Waite  in 
conversation.  The  Colonel  says,  '  These  three  men  must  be  sur- 
prised.' The  Judge  replied,  '  Colonel,  you  know  your  duty.' 
In  half  an  hour  after,  from  a  signal  given,  which  was  previously 
understood,  about  one  thousand  citizens  were  armed,  and  on  duty, 
and  in  another  half  hour  another  thousand  men  were  on  duty. 
This  sudden  demonstration  proved  to  them  that  their  secret  was 
known,  and  that  we  were  fully  prepared  for  them.  In  the  mean 
time  our  '  outside'  friends  in  this  city  telegraphed  to  those  inter- 
ested in  the  mail  and  telegraph  lines,  that  they  must  work  for  the 
removal  of  the  troops,  Governor  Harding,  Judges  Waite  and 
Drake,  else  there  would  be  rlifftculty,  and  the  mail  and  telegraph 
lines  would  be  destroyed.  Their  moneyed  interest  has  given  them 
great  energy  in  our  behalf.  They  have  placed  their  line  at  the 
disposal  of  President  Young,  to  be  used  to  Washington,  or  New 
York.  We  fully  expect  the  Colonel,  Governor,  and  Judges  will 
be  recalled." 

Here,  it  will  be  noticed,  is  the  same  covert  threat  con- 
tained in  Brigham  Young's  speech,  that  the  mail  and  tele- 
graph lines  would  be  destroyed,  if  the  federal  officers  should 
be  retained  at  their  posts.  It  ii^  to  be  regretted  that  this 
standing  menace  should  so  far  have  had  its  effect,  as  to  in- 
duce the  President,  some  two  or  three  months  afterward,  to 
recall  Governor  Harding  from  his  position.  It  is  true,  by 
transferring  him  to  the  Chief  Justiceship  of  Colorado  Terri- 
tory, his  removal  was  disconnected  with  any  censure  of  his 
administration.  It  still  remained,  however,  a  substantial 
yielding  to  the  arbitrary  demands  of  Brigham  Young,  and  as 
such,  had  a  direct  tendency  to  encourage  him  in  his  lawless 
proceedings,  and  to  postpone  for  years  the  solution  of  the 
Utah  problem. 

Judges  Waife  and  Drake  had,  immediately  after  the  dem- 
onstration of  the  3d  of  INTarcli,  written  to  the  President, 
giving  it  as  their  opinion  that  the  laws  were  nugatory,  and 


POLITICAL  HISTORY   CONTINUED.  115 

the  Organic  Act  entirely  inoperative  in  the  Territory,  and 
dechniug  to  hold  any  terms  of  the  District  Court  in  their 
respective  districts  until  they  should  be  properly  supported 
by  the  militaiy  power  of  the  Government ;  at  the  same  time 
giving  it  as  their  opinion,  that  such  a  support  should  be  at 
least  five  thousand  men,  well  armed,  equipped,  and  provided. 

The  failure  to  furnish  this  force,  and  the  subsequent  change 
in  the  governorship  of  the  Territory,  satisfied  them  that  the 
Government  was  not  then  prepared  to  meet  the  questions 
which  had  arisen  in  such  a  manner  as  the  dignity  and  honor 
of  the  nation  required,  and  accordingly  all  effort  to  further 
counteract  the  evil  effects  of  this  intolerant  theocracy  were, 
for  the  time,  abandoned.  , 

Judge  Waite,  after  holding,  with  his  associates,  in  July, 
1863,  a  term  of  the  Supreme  Court,  at  which  there  was  not 
a  single  case  on  the  docket^  left  the  Territory  in  disgust,  and 
established  himself  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Idaho 
City,  Idaho  Territory.  He  resigned  his  office,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded, in  the  spring  of  1864,  by  Judge  McCurdy,  the  pres- 
ent incumbent. 

Governor  Harding  was  succeeded,  in  May,  1863,  by  James 
Duane  Doty,  who,  at  the  time  of  his  appointment,  was  Super- 
intendent of  Indian  Affairs.  Governor  Doty  is  a  man  of 
sound  judgment,  and  of  large  experience  in  public  affairs ; 
and  does  as  well  as  any  man  could  in  his  embarrassing  posi- 
tion. But  his  governorship  is  merely  nominal.  With  the 
form  and  semblance,  he  lacks  all  the  substance  of  power ; 
and  where  he  should  order,  he  must  satisfy  himself  with 
request  and  expostulation. 

Judge  Drake  still  remains  in  Utah,  and  with  all  the  talent, 
energy,  and  experience  necessary  to  fill  his  position  to  the 
great  benefit  of  the  people,  he  is  obliged  to  remain  entirely 
inactive,  and  goes  through  the  forms  of  holding  court,  with 
scarcely  an  attempt  to  administer  justice  to  the  whole  peo- 
ple, so  well  persuaded  is  he  that  all  such  attempts  are  futile 
in  the  present  condition  of  affairs. 


116  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

Gen.  Connor  also  remains,  and,  considering  the  small 
force  at  his  command,  has  accomplished  wonders.  By  his 
bold  and  fearless  vindication  of  the  rights  and  interests  of 
the  Government,  guided,  at  the  same  time,  in  all  his  acts  by 
great  discretion  and  moderation,  he  has  compelled  some 
show  of  respect  for  the  federal  authority. 

Neither  Gen.  Connor  nor  Judge  "\Yaite  had  the  slightest 
intention  of  arresting  Brigham  Young  at  the  time  alluded 
to  in  March,  1863.  The  astute  leader  of  the  Mormons  had 
a  spy  listening  to  the  conversation  of  those  gentlemen,  and 
the  spy  aforesaid  heard  some  things,  and  thought  he  heard 
others.  He  reported  to  headquarters  the  supposed  result  of 
his  discoveries,  and  it  must  be  admitted  that  those  who  had 
been  placed  under  this  insulting  espionage  took  no  great 
pains  to  correct  the  impression  which  prevailed,  and  which 
so  quickly  and  so  thoroughly  developed  the  disloyal  senti- 
ments which  the  people  had  imbibed  under  the  infamous 
teachings  of  Brigham  and  his  corruj)!  priests,  apostles,  and 
bishops. 

Mark  the  language  used  by  Mr.  Calder.  "  On  Monday 
last,  a  reliable  person  overheard,"  &c.  Here  the  infamous 
system  of  espionage  maintained  over  the  federal  officers  by 
Young,  stands  plainly  confessed.  But  the  fact  was  well 
known,  and  he  reaped  no  great  benefit  from  it. 

So  thoroughly  was  he  frightened,  that,  to  save  himself  the 
ignominy  and  humiliation  of  a  public  and  forcible  arrest,  he 
went  privately  to  his  friend.  Chief  Justice  Kinney,  and  gave 
his  bonds  for  his  appearance  at  Kinney's  court,  to  answer  to 
any  indictment  that  might  he  found  against  him  for  polygamy. 

The  grand  jury,  of  course,  found  no  indictment,  and  the 
incident  is  only  worth  mentioning  as  curiously  illustrative  of 
the  extent  to  which  he  was  operated  on  by  his  fears  on  that 
occasion. 

A  brief  notice  of  the  federal  officers  stationed  and  resid- 
ing in  Utah,  while  the  writer  was  living  in  that  Territory, 
will  close  the  present  chapter. 


-     jt--_TC-^  ^^-  :? 


"- / 


POLITICAL   HISTORY   CONTINUED.  119 

Hon.  Stephen  S.  Harding,  who  was  Governor  from  the 
spring  of  1862  for  about  one  year,  is  from  Milan,  Indiana. 
He  is  about  fifty  years  of  age  ;  is  a  sound  lawyer,  and  a  man 
of  extraordinary  energy  and  decision  of  character.  These 
traits  are  modified,  in  some  degree,  by  considerable  ambition, 
and  great  love  of  approbation.  In  his  administration  of 
Utah  affairs,  so  far  as  he  was  governed  by  this  feeling,  he 
labored  for  the  respect  and  approval  of  the  great  body  of  the 
American  peo[)le,  rather  than  of  the  masses  by  whom  he  was 
immediately  surrounded. 

That  he  possesses  much  personal  courage  is  evidenced  by 
many  of  his  official  acts,  some  of  which  he  had  reason  to  be- 
lieve would  subject  him  at  once  to  personal  danger.  The 
presence  of  the  military  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  was 
sufficient  to  prevent  any  open  outbreak ;  still  there  were 
many  ways  in  which  his  personal  safety  might  be  jeopard- 
ized, without  subjecting  the  perpetrators  of  the  acts  to  pun- 
ishment. 

So  well  is  this  understood  in  Salt  Lake,  that  it  requires  a 
•  high  degree  of  moral  courage  to  enable  one  to  do  any  act 
offensive  to  "  the  powers  that  be  "  in  the  Holy  City. 

Every  attempt  was  made  to  seduce  him  from  the  path  of 
duty,  not  omitting  the  same  appliajices  which  had  been 
brought  to  bear  upon  Steptoe  and  DaAvson,  but  all  in  vain. 

His  family  remained  at  Milan,  except  his  son,  Attila,  who 
was  with  the  Governor  at  Salt  Lake,  and  acted  as  his  pri- 
vate secretary.  * 

Hon.  James  Duane  Doty,  the  successor  of  Harding,  and 
the  present  Governor  of  the  Territory,  was,  for  nearly  two 
years  previous  to  receiving  the  appointment  of  Governor, 
Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs  for  the  Territory.  He  was 
appointed  to  succeed  Harding  in  April  or  May,  1863. 

James  Duane  Doty,  Governor  of  Utah,  was  born  at  Salem, 
in  the  County  of  Washington  and  State  of  New  York,  on 
the  5th  day  of  November,  A.  D.  1799,  the  last  year  of  the 
last  century. 


120  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

He  emigrated  to  Detroit,  Micliigan,  where  he  was  admit- 
ted to  the  Supreme  Court,  and  settled  in  the  practice  of  the 
law  in  the  year  1818,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  emi- 
grants to  that  State. 

The  next  year  he  was  elected  Clerk  of  the  Common  Coun- 
cil of  the  City,  and  appointed  Secretary  to  the  Legislature, 
which  was  then  composed  of  the  Governor  and  Judges  of 
the  Supreme  Court ;  and  was  also  appointed  a  Notary  Pub- 
lic, and  soon  afterwards  Clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
Territory  by  the  Judges  of  that  court. 

In  1820  he  accompanied  Governor  Cass,  as  Secretary,  in 
his  expedition  to  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi,  travelling  a 
distance  of  over  four  thousand  miles  through  the  Indian 
Country  in  a  birch-bark  canoe,  from  the  20lh  of  May  to  the 
20th  of  November. 

In  this  year  he  revised  the  laws  of  the  Territory,  which 
were  published  by  the  authority  of  the  Legislature. 

In  1821  he  was  admitted  an  attorney  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  tlie  United  States  at  AVashington. 

In  1823  the  country  north  of  lakes  Huron  and  Michigan,^ 
and  west  of  lakes  Michigan  and  Superior,  was  made  by  Con- 
gress a  judicial  district,  and  he  was  appointed  by  James  Mon- 
roe its  Judge,  with  the  title  of  "  an  additional  Judge  of  the 
Territory  of  Michigan."  He  performed  the  duties  of  this 
office  until  the  year  1832, —  having  married,  and  fixed  his 
residence  at  Green  Bay,  then  the  largest  settlement  in  the 
country  north  or  west  of  Detroit. 

In  1832  he  was  appointed  by  the , Secretary  of  War  a 
Commissioner  to  locate  INIilitary  Roads  from  Fort  Howard, 
at  Green  Bay,  to  Fort  Crawford  on  Prairie  du  Chien,  and  to 
Fort  Dearborn  at  the  mouth  of  Chicago  Creek,  now  the  site 
of  the  city  of  Chicago,  —  between  which  points  there  were 
then  scarcely  twenty  white  inhabitants. 

In  1834  and  1835  he  served  in  the  Legislative  Council  of 
Michigan,  having  been  elected  by  the  voters  west  of  the 
Lake  ;  and  introduced  the  measure  of  a  State  government, 
which  was  adopted  bv  the  Cnimpil. 


POLITICAL  IIISTOllY  CONTINUED.  121 

He  contended  for  the  right  of  the  people  to  form  a  gov- 
ernment for  themselves,  under  the  provisions  of  the  Ordi- 
nance of  1787. 

By  this  measure  a  territorial  government  was  obtained  for 
Wisconsin,  and  a  permanent  separation  from  Michigan  of  the 
country  west  of  Lake  Michigan,  which  had  been  attached  to 
that  Territory  in  1818,  when  Illinois  was  admitted  into  the 
Union.  It  had  been  sought  in  vain  of  Congress  from  the 
year  1825,  —  the  application  having  been  successfully  op- 
posed by  the  party  averse  to  laying  the  foundation  of  new 
non-slaveholding  States. 

In  1837  he  was  elected  Delegate  to  Congress  from  Wis- 
consin, and  continued  to  serve  in  that  office  by  reelection 
until  the  year  1841,  when  he  was  appointed  Governor  and 
Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs  in  that  Territory ;  and  as 
Commissioner  held  treaties  at  Oeyoowurah,  on  Minnesota 
River,  with  the  Dakotahs,  and  with  the  bands  of  that  nation 
on  the  Mississippi  River. 

It  was  in  1837  that  he  laid  out  the  town  of  Madison,  and 
succeeded  in  making  it  the  seat  of  government,  —  one  of  the 
most  valuable  services  which  he  ever  rendered  that  State.  It 
is  now  considered  one  of  the  most  beautiful  sites  for  a  town. 
When  selected  by  him  there  was  not  a  white  settler  within 
forty  miles,  and  it  was  occupied  by  Winnebago  Indians. 

He  was  elected  and  served  as  a  member  of  the  Conven- 
tion to  form  a  State  Constitution  in  1846  for  Wisconsin. 

In  1849  he  was  elected  in  the  Third  District  of  Wisconsin 
a  Representative  iup  Congress,  and  was  reelected  in  1851,^ 
serving  on  several  committees.  It  was  during  his  fii-st  term 
as  a  member  that  he  was  declared  an  Abolitionist  —  now  no 
longer  a  term  of  reproach  —  by  Father  Ritchie  and  the 
Southern  leaders,  because  he  declined  to  vote  for  a  repeal 
of  the  duty  on  lead. 

In  1861  he  was  appointed  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs 
in  the  Territory  of  Utah ;  and  in  1862  was  appointed  a  Com- 
missioner to  negotiate  treaties  with  the  Shoshonees,  —  which 


.> 


122  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

vvLi'o  held  by  biiu  in  18G3.  These  were  the  first  treaties 
ever  made  by  the  Uuited  States  with  this  nation  of  In- 
dians, i 

In  May,  1863,  he  was  appointed  Governor  of  the  Terri- 
tory of  Utah.  During  his  long  public  service  he  has  had 
the  acquaintance,  and  enjoyed  the  friendship,  of  mo?t  of  the 
eminent  men  connected  with  the  Government  of  our  coun- 
try. Of  those  who  were  on  the  stage  when  he  entered  pub- 
lic life,  it  is  believed  that  but  one  is  now  living, —  Gen.  Cass, 
who  was  his  generous  patron  in  boyhood,  and  has  been  his 
friend  during  this  long  period  of  an  eventful  life.* 

Hon.  Thomas  J.  Drake,  Associate  Justice,  is  from  Pontiac, 
]\Iichigan,  where  he  had  resided  from  early  manhood.  He  is 
now  over  sixty  years  of  age.  He  has  a  thin,  wiry  frame, 
dark  hair,  and  a  nervous,  bilious  temperament. 

His  mind  is  vigorous  and  clear,  and  his  virtue  and  integ- 
rity of  the  old  Roman  order.  Of  blameless  lil'e  and  man- 
ners, all  the  shafts  of  his  accusers  fall  harmless  at  his  feet. 

The  wrongs  and  iniquities  he  has  witnessed,  added  to  per- 
sonal ill-treatment,  has  engendered  an  intense  hatred  of  the 
despots  who  sit  enthroned  over  the  people  of  Utah,  but  he 
has  the  most  kindly  feelings  toward  the  great  body  of  the 
people. 

Lacking  all  adequate  power,  he  is  obliged  to  sit  quietly 
by,  and  see  wrongs  perpetrated,  which  he  is  utterly  unable 
to  redress. 

Judge  Waite,  the  Associate  of  Harding  and  Drake,  was 
from  the  State  of  Illinois,  where  he  had  resided  since  the 
year  1840. 

*  Since  writing  the  above  we  have  to  record  tlie  deatli  of  Gov.  Doty, 
who  departed  this  life  at  Salt  Lake  City,  full  of  years  and  honors,  and  was 
accompanied  to  his  temporary  resting  place  by  all  the  Federal  Otlicers,  and 
a  large  concourse  of  citizens,  by  whom  he  was  respected  and  loved  as  a 
father. 


POLITICAL   HISTORY   CONTINUED.  123 

At  the  time  of  bis  appointment,  in  February,  1862,  be 
was  tiiirty-eight  years  of  age.  He  was  tben  bving  near 
Chicago,  in  which  city  be  bad  resided  and  practised  law 
shice  1853.  He  had  previously  practiced  liis  profession  at 
Rock  Ishmd,  Illinois,  where  he  was  admitted  in  1847. 
After  leaving  Utah,  in  1863,  he  resumed  bis  practice  in 
Idaho,  where  be  resided  three  years,  during  a  portion  of 
which  time  be  was  District  Attorney  of  the  Third  Judicial 
District  of  Idaho,  embracing  Boise  County.  In  the  fall  of 
1866  he  returned  to  Illinois,  and  again  took  his  place  with 
the  Chicago  Bar. 

Hon.  John  Titus,  who  succeeded  Kinney,  and  is  the  pres- 
ent Cliief  Justice  of  the  Territory,  is  somewhat  past  fifty 
years  of  age,  —  a  gentleman  of  much  dignity  and  urbanity 
of  manners.  He  is  large  and  well  formed,  and  has  an  ac- 
tive temperament.  He  still  occupies  the  position  of  Chief 
Justice,  which  he  has  filled  with  integrity  and  ability. 

Chief  Justice  Titus  was  appointed  from  the  Philadelphia 
bar. 

Dr.  Frank  Fuller  was  Secretary  of  the  Territory  about 
two  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Reed,  in  the  fall  of 
1863. 

Dr.  Fuller  is  from  New  Hampshire,  and  a  dentist  by  pro- 
fession and  practice.  He  was  attentive  and  obliging  in  bis 
official  intercourse  with  all  parties.  He  is  a  polished  gentle- 
man also  in  social  intercourse. 

He  was  one  of  the  few  federal  officers  in  Salt  Lake  at 
that  time  who  was  so  fortunate  as  never  seriously  to  offisnd 
Brigbam  Young.  Doubtles^s  bis  position  brought  him  less  in 
collision  with  that  gentleman  than  was  the  case  with  other 
officers.  If  he  saw  any  difficulties  approaching,  by  a  little 
shrewd  management  be  carefully  avoided  them.  If  in  thus 
steering  between  Scylla  and  Charybdis  he  did  not  alwaya 
meet  the  approbation  of  his  fellow-officers,  be  managed  at 


124  POLITICAL  HISTORY  CONTINUED. 

least  to  avoid  any  open   differences,  and  thus  kept  up  the 
apjiearance  of  friendship  with  all. 

He  enjoyed  for  a  long  time  the  confidence  and  apparent 
respect  of  Brigham,  to  a  greater  degree,  perhaps,  than  Kin- 
ney himself. 

From  Salt  Lake  he  went  to  San  Francisco,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  dealing  in  mining  stocks. 

From  the  time  of  Dawson's  hasty  departure  in  the  fall  of 
1861,  until  Governor  Harding's  arrival  in  July,  1862,  he 
acted  as  Governor  of  the  Territory,  and  his  administration 
gave  general  satisfaction  to  the  Mormons. 

Amos  Reed,  Esq.,  who  succeeded  Dr.  Fuller  as  Secretary 
in  1863,  and  who  now  holds  that  position,  came  into  the  Ter- 
ritory with  Governor  Doty  from  Wisconsin. 

During  the  winter  of  1863-64,  while  Governor  Doty  was 
absent  in  Washington,  Reed  was  the  acting  Governor,  and 
as  such  evinced  a  high  order  of  administrative  talent.  The 
affairs  of  the  Territory  were,  during  that  time,  conducted 
with  much  discretion  and  judgment,  and  so  far  as  was  in  his 
power,  the  rights  and  interests  of  all  classes  were  respected. 

General  P.  Edward  Connor  was  born  in  County  Kerry, 
Ireland,  and  migrated  to  the  United  States,  with  his  parents,' 
at  a  very  early  period  of  life. 

Having  reached  the  age  of  manhood,  he  enlisted  in  the 
regular  army  of  the  United  States,  and  served  an  honorable 
term,  as  private,  for  five  years,  on  the  frontier. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  INIexican  War,  he  raised  a 
company  of  Texas  Volunteers,  and  as  captain,  led  them 
with  distinguished  success  and  heroism  at  the  battle  of 
Bucna  Vista.  He  was  mentioned  in  official  dispatches,  with 
high  encomiums  for  bravery.  At  this  battle  he  was  severely 
wounded,  and  received  a  pension  from  the  Government.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  he  settled  upon  the  Pacific  coast. 

Captain  Connor  resided  in  Stockton,  California,  for  ten 
years,  prior  to  the  rebellion,  engaged  in  private  business, 
wherein  he  attained  a  handsome  competence. 


POLITICAL  HISTORY   CONTINUED.  127 

He  was  married  at  Stockton,  and  now  has  two  children 
living.  During  his  residence  in  Stockton,  Captain  Connor 
took  an  active  interest  in  military  affairs,  and  commanded  a 
uniform  company. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  present  rebellion,  he  was  ten- 
dered the  appointment  of  Colonel  of  the  Third  Regiment  of 
Infantry,  California  Volunteers.  With  the  expectation  that 
his  regiment  was  to  be  sent  East,  he  promptly  raised  and 
organized  it. 

The  exigencies  of  the  service,  however,  required  his  pres- 
ence in  Utah,  and  in  the  summer  of  1862  he  led  the  3d 
Infantry,  and  part  of  the  2d  Cavalry,  Cal.  Vol.,  across  the 
Plains,  in  a  most  successful,  though  arduous  march,  and  es- 
tablished his  camp  where  it  would  command  the  City  of  the 
Saints. 

Amid  the  snows  and  storms  of  the  winter  of  18G2-63,  he 
planned  and  prosecuted  a  successful  campaign  against  hostile 
Indians,  and  on  the  29th  of  January,  1863,  fought  the  hai'd 
battle  of  Bear  River,  defeating  and  almost  annihilating  the 
savages,  under  the  leadership  of  Bear  Hunter  and  Lehigh. 

For  the  brilliancy  of  this  action.  Col.  Connor  was  pro- 
moted by  the  President  to  be  Brigadier- General  of  United 
States  Volunteers,  which  rank  he  now  retains. 

He  is  a  man  of  strong  common  sense,  excellent  and  quick 
judgment,  invincible  energy  and  determination,  firmness 
almost  amounting  to  obstinacy,  and  the  strictest  integrity. 

His  administration  in  Utah  has  been  eminently  successful. 
By  Brigham  Young  he  is  at  once  hated  and  feared.  He  is 
but  little  past  forty  years  of  age. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

brigha:si  as  president  of  the  church. 

Organization  of  the  Mormon  Church. —  Functions  of  the  various  Officers. 
The  Two  Priesthoods.  —  Mode  of  Treating  Dissenters  or  "Apostates." — 
Divisions  in  the  Church.  —  The  Gladdeuites.  —  History  of  the  Morris- 
ites.  —  The  Josephites.  —  Return  to  the  true  Mormon  Church. 

In  his  capacity  as  President  of  the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Latter  Day  Saints,  Brighara  Young  possesses  and 
wields  despotic  power  over  "  this  people,"  and  rules  them  by 
his  single  will,  in  all  their  aifairs,  both  spiritual  and  tem- 
poral. 

This  is  owing,  not  to  any  peculiai'ity  in  the  church  organ- 
ization. Any  organization  which  should  recognize  him  as 
the  absokite  liead  of  the  church,  and  dispense  with  every 
system  of  checks  and  balances,  would  answer  the  same  pur- 
pose. Once  admit  the  necessity  of  a  spiritual  head,  and  fail 
to  require  from  him  any  responsibility,  and  all  that  remains 
is,  to  establish  a  grade  of  agents  and  mediums  for  the  trans- 
mission of  his  will  and  wishes  to  the  masses,  and  the  system 
is  complete. 

Such  a  grade  is  fully  established  under  the  Mormon  sys- 
tem. 

First, —  The  First  Presidency.  This  consists  of  three, 
chosen  from  those  who  hold  the  high-priesthood  and  apostle- 
ship,  and  its  office  is  to  preside  over  and  direct  the  affairs  of 
the  whole  church.  It  consists  of  a  President  and  two  Coun- 
sellors. The  President  is  also  Seer,  Revelator,  Translator, 
and  Prophet.     He  rules  in  all  spiritual  and  temporal  affairs. 


BKIGHAM  AS  PRESIDENT   OF  THE  CIIURCn.        129 

Secondly,  —  The  Apostles.  These  are  to  build  up,  organ- 
ize,  and  preside  over  churches,  administer  the  ordinances,  etc. 

Thirdly,  —  The  Seventies.  The  Quorums  of  the  Seventies 
are  to  travel  in  all  the  world,  preach  the  gospel,  and  admin- 
ister its  ordinances  and  blessings.  There  is,  also,  the  Pa- 
triarch, whose  duty  is  to  bless  the  fatherless,  to  prophesy 
what  shall  befall  them,  etc. 

Fourthly,  —  High-Priests  and  Elders.  The  High-Priest  is 
to  administer  the  ordinances,  and  preside  over  the  Stakes  of 
the  church  ;  that  is,  over  the  churches  established  abroad. 

The  Elders  are  to  preach  and  to  baptize ;  to  ordain  other 
Elders,  also  Priests,  Teachers,  and  Deacons.  All  the  fore- 
going officers  are  of  the  Melchisedec  Priesthood. 

Fifthly,  —  The  Aaronic  Priesthood,  which  includes  the 
offices  of  Bishop,  Priest,  Teacher,  and  Deacon. 

The  Bishop  presides  over  all  the  lesser  offices  of  the 
Aaronic  Priesthood,  ministers  in  outward  ordinances,  con- 
ducts the  temporal  business  of  the  church,  and  sits  in  judg- 
ment on  transgressors. 

The  Priest  is  to  preach,  baptize,  administer  the  sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  visit  and  exhort  the  saints. 

The  Teacher  is  to  watch  over  and  strengthen  the  church, 
etc. 

The  Deacon  is  to  assist  the  Teacher. 

There  is  also  a  High  Council,  consisting  of  Twelve  High- 
Priests,  with  a  President.  The  office  of  the  Council  is  to 
settle  all  important  difficulties. 

The  Priesthood  comes  direct  from  Heaven,  and  was  lost 
to  man,  until  the  keys  of  both  orders  of  the  Priesthood  were 
given  to  Joseph  Smith,  by  an  angel  from  Heaven,  in  1829. 
After  the  death  of  Smith,  they  came  into  the  hands  of  Brig- 
ham  Young. 

From  this  resume  of  the  church  organization,  it  will  be 
seen  that  it  is  sufficient  for  the  purpose.  All  tliese  officers 
are  but  mediums  for  the  transmission  of  the  will  of  the  Pres- 
ident.     Nor  is  it  confined  to  spiritual  affixirs.     Under  the 


130        BRIGHAM  AS  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

form  of  a  church  organization,  this  system  absorbs  not  only 
the  religious,  but  all  the  civil  and  political  liberty  of  the  in- 
dividual member.  The  High  Council  forms  an  apparent 
check  on  the  power  of  the  President ;  but  when  it  is  consid- 
ered that  this  body  is  composed  of  persons  nearest  the  Pres- 
ident, and  under  his  immediate  influence  and  control,  in  other 
relations  in  the  same  organization,  —  as  High-Priests,  etc., — 
it  will  be  seen  that  the  check  is  only  nominal,  and  forms  no 
real  protection  to  the  rights  of  the  people. 

The  orders  of  the  Priesthood,  to  which  these  officers  are 
respectively  attached,  are  thus  distinguished :  — 

The  Melehisedec  Priesthood  hold  the  right  of  Presidency, 
receive  revelations  from  Heaven,  for  the  guidance  of  the 
church,  and  hold  the  keys  of  all  its  spiritual  blessings. 

The  Aaronic  Priesthood  hold  the  keys  of  the  ministering 
of  angels,  and  have  the  right  to  administer  in  outward  ordi- 
nances. This  Priesthood  must  be  filled  by  lineal  descendants 
of  Aaron. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  mission  of  all  the  officers  of  the 
Melehisedec  Priesthood  —  the  Apostles,  High-Priests,  Sev- 
enties, and  Elders  —  is  to  propagate  the  gospel,  and  make 
converts  ;  while  the  government  of  the  church  and  of  the 
people  is  committed  to  the  Aaronic  Priesthood. 

Of  these  the  chief  is  the  Bishop,  who  is  accordingly  the 
civil  and  religious  magistrate  of  the  ward  in  which  he  re- 
sides. 

There  are  other  civil  magistrates,  whose  duties  are  but 
little  more  than  nominal,  except  in  Salt  Lake  City,  where 
the  occasional  large  influx  of  "  gentiles  "  who  will  not  sub- 
mit to  this  spiritual  government,  renders  necessary  an  ap- 
proximation to  the  forms  of  civil  proceedings  to  which  they 
have  been  accustomed. 

The  "  saints "  themselves  are  not  expected  to  go  before 
other  than  the  ecclesiastical  magistrates.  When  brought 
unwillingly  before  a  civil  magistrate,  the  same  being  a  Mor* 
mon,  the  case  receives  a  favorable  consideration. 


BRIGHAM  AS  PRESIDENT  OF   THE  CHURCH.        131 

Kare  exceptions  may  be  cited  where,  from  motives  of 
policy,  this  rule  is  relaxed  oi*  departed  from.  For  instance, 
in  the  winter  of  1863-64,  Jason  Luce,  a  Mormon,  was  tried, 
convicted,  and  shot,  for  the  murder  of  a  gentile  in  Salt  Lake 
City.  But  the  murder  was  of  the  most  cruel  and  unpro- 
voked character,  the  crime  was  perpeti-ated  on  the  street, 
and  the  evidence  was  open  and  abundant.  Much  indignation 
existed  among  the  miners,  many  of  whom  were  congregated 
in  Salt  Lake  City  at  the  time. 

If  this  had  not  been  the  first  instance  in  the  history  of 
Utah  of  the  execution  of  a  Mormon,  under  judgment  of  a 
Mormon  court,  for  the  murder  of  a  gentile,  it  might  be  taken 
as  evidence  of  an  intention  to  do  justice  to  all.  As  it  is,  it 
should  be  mai'ked  to  their  credit ;  and  it  is  only  to  be  hoped 
that  subsequent  events  may  not  prove  it  to  have  been  an  act 
of  policy  merely. 

The  machinery  of  the  Mormon  Church,  through  which 
the  people  are  governed  in  all  their  affairs,  civil  as  well  as 
religious,  is  well  described  in  the  following  extract  from  the 
Salt  Lake  Correspondence  of  the  '"  Chicago  Tribune  "  of  May, 
1863:  — 

"  The  machinery  of  the  church  consists  of  Brigham,  who  is 
greatly  pleased  and  flattered  by  the  blasphemous  title  of  the 
'  Lord's  Anointed,'  the  Second  and  Third  Presidents,  College  of 
Twelve  Apostles,  Patriarchs,  Quorums  of  Seventies,  Counsellors, 
Presidents  of  '  Stakes,'  Bishops,  Elders,  and  Teachers ;  and  last 
but  not  least,  the  Danltes,  or  '  Destroying  Angels,'  who  are  scat- 
tered throughout  the  Territory,  and  who  superintend  the  temporal 
and  spiritual  alFalrs  of  the  people  In  every  city,  village,  '  stake,' 
and  hamlet  In  the  same. 

"  These  various  organizations  and  persons,  from  the  Second 
President  to  the  red-haired  Danlte,  who  Is  simply  the  employed 
assassin  of  the  Great  Head,  are  the  shafts,  driving-wheel,  cog  and 
spur-wheels,  belts  and  pulleys  of  the  great  machine  called  the 
Church,  and  as  such  are  made  to  pei-form  their  various  functions 
with  a  precision  and  fitness  of  things  that  is  wonderful  indeed. 

.    .     .     "  Brigham,  like  a  skilful  engineer,  stands  on  the  plat* 


132         BRIGH.4JM  AS  PRESIDENT   OF   THE  CHURCH. 

form  of  his  locomotive,  with  hand  placed  upon  the  lever,  sheltered 
in  the  caboose,  with  peep-holes  in  front,  on  the  right  and  on  the 
left,  and  the  crook  of  whose  finger  causes  the  whole  train  to  move 
forward  or  back,  or  to  switch  off  on  the  track  of  some  new  dogma, 
to  which  he  lures  on  the  unsuspecting  passengers  and  precious 
freight,  with  the  catchpenny  whistle  of  '  Revelation  ! '  which  is 
most  persistently  sounded  when  he  hears  the  restive  murmurings 
of  those  who  may  catch  but  a  premonitory  glimpse  of  the  awful 
precipice  to  which  he  is  hurrying  them  on,  as  to  a  terrible  and 
eternal  destruction." 

The  motive-power  is  religious  delusion,  which  is  con- 
stantly applied  by  Brigliam,  who  thus  drives  along  the 
whole  combination  with  fearful  power. 

"  And  in  that  train  may  be  found  all  that  makes  up  the  hopes 
and  fears,  the  joys  and  sorrows,  the  love  and  hatred,  of  that  '  moral 
and  physical  phenomenon,'  the  Mormon  Church,  —  not  only  here, 
but  scattered  throughout  all  Europe,  and  the  '  Isles  of  the  Seas,' 
who  have  ventured  their  all  —  their  lives  and  fortunes,  their  bodies 
and  souls  —  on  the  solution  of  that  dearest  of  all  problems  to  their 
minds,  the  ultimate  triumph  of  the  '  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of 
Latter  Day  Saints '  (as  it  is  blasphemously  called)  over  all  gov- 
ernments, powers,  and  principalities  of  earth  1 " 

In  reference  to  the  organization  of  the  church,  and  the 
functions  of  the  respective  priesthoods,  the  following  is 
Bri"-ham's  own  explanation  of  the  whole  matter.  In  this 
exhibit  will  be  seen  how  little  importance  he  attaches  to  the 
High  Council. 

Speaking  of  laying  the  corner-stones  of  the  Temple,  he 
says : — 

"  I  am  not  a  visionary  man,  neither  am  I  given  much  to  jirophe- 
sying.  When  I  want  any  of  that  done  I  call  on  Brother  Heber, — 
he  is  my  prophet ;  he  loves  to  proi)hesy,  and  I  love  to  hear  him. 

"  Now,  who  do  we  set,  in  the  first  place,  to  lay  the  chief,  the 
South-East  corner-stone  ?  We  begin  with  the  First  Presidency, 
and  the  Apostleship.  Who  comes  next  in  the  church  ?  Tlie 
Bishop  is  the  next  standing  authority  in  the  Kingdom  of  God ; 
therefore  we  set  the  Bishop  at  the  second  corner-stone  of  tlia 


BRIGHAM  AS  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  CHURCH.        133 

building.  The  Melcbisedec  Priesthood,  with  the  altar,  fixtures, 
and  furniture,  belonging  thereto,  is  situated  on  the  East,  and  the 
Aaronic  Priesthood  belongs  on  the  West ;  consequently  the  Pre- 
siding Bishop  laid  the  second  corner-stone. 

"  The  High-Priests'  Quorum,  do  they  come  next  in  order  ?  No, 
not  any  more  than  the  Elders,  nor  the  Elders  any  more  than  the 
High  Council,  nor  the  High  Council  any  more  than  the  Teachers, 
Deacons,  or  Priests.  The  High-Priests'  Quorum  is  a  standing 
quorum,  abiding  at  home.  So  is  the  Elders'  Quorum.  But  the 
place  of  the  Bishop  is  in  the  temporal  affairs  of  the  church.  So, 
then,  what  shall  we  say  ?  Why,  out  of  due  respect  to  the  High- 
Priesthood,  which  is  nothing  more  than  right  and  reasonable,  we 
say  to  the  High-Priests,  '  Lay  the  third  corner-stone.' 

"  We  started  at  the  South-East  corner,  with  the  Apostleship ; 
then  the  lesser,  Aaronic  Priesthood,  laid  the  second  stone;  we 
bring  them  in  our  ranks  to  the  third  stone,  which  the  High-Priests 
and  Elders  laid  ;  we  take  them  under  our  wing  to  the  North-East 
corner,  which  the  Twelve  and  Seventies  laid,  and  then  again  join 
the  Apostleship.  It  circumscribes  every  other  priesthood,  for  it  is 
the  Priesthood  of  Melchisedec,  which  is  after  the  order  of  the  Son 
of  God."  * 

But  all  this  arrangement  and  subordination  does  not  suffice 
to  prevent  disaffection  in  the  church.  This  will  arise,  and 
results  in  differences,  schisms,  and  divisions. 

Not  to  notice  smaller  matters  of  difference,  three  system- 
atic and  organized  attempts  have  been  made  by  large  bodies 
of  Mormons,  since  their  arrival  in  Utah,  to  throw  off  their 
allegiance  to  Brigham  Young.  They  have  all  been  met  and 
treated  by  him  with  a  fierce  bitterness,  indicating  how  thor- 
oughly he  is  alarmed  by  such  movements. 

The  third  of  these  is  now  in  progress,  and  promises  to  be 
successful. 

The  first  of  the  "  apostasies,"  as  they  are  called  by  the 
Mormons,  was  headed  by  Gladden  Bishop,  in  1852-53,  and 
his  followers  were  called  "  Gladdenites." 

Some  idea  of  the  manner  in  which  they  were  met  by 

•  April  6, 1863.    Journ.  of  Dig.,  Vol.  I.  p.  135. 


134        BKIGHAM  AS  PRESIDENT  OF    THE  CHURCH. 

Brigbam,  and  of  his  mode  of  dealing  with  apostates  gener 
ally,  may  be  gathered  from  the  following  extracts  from  a 
sermon  preached  by  him  in  March,  1853  :  — 

"  I  will  ask,  What  has  produced  your  persecutions  and  sorrow  ? 
What  has  been  the  starting-point  of  all  your  afflictions  V  They 
began  with  apostates  in  your  midst ;  those  disaffected  spirits  caused 
others  to  come  in,  worse  tlian  they,  who  would  run  out  and  bring 
in  all  the  devils  they  possibly  could.  That  has  been  the  starting- 
point  and  grand  cause  of  all  our  difficulties,  every  time  we  were 
driven.  I  am  coming  to  this  place, —  I  am  coming  nearer  home. 
.     .     .     Do  we  see  apostates  among  us  now  ?     We  do. 

"  When  a  man  comes  right  out  like  an  independent  devil,  and 
says,  '  Damn  Mormonism  and  all  the  ISIormons,'  and  is  off  with 
himself  to  California,  I  say  he  is  a  gentleman  by  the  side  of  a 
nasty,  sneaking  apostate,  who  is  opposed  to  nothing  but  Christian- 
ity. I  say  to  the  former,  '  Go  in  peace,  sir,  and  prosper  if  you 
can.'  But  we  have  a  set  of  spirits  hei-e,  worse  than  such  a  char- 
acter. When  I  went  from  meeting  last  Sabbath,  my  ears  were 
saluted  with  an  apostate,  crying  in  the  streets  here.  I  want  to 
know  if  any  one  of  you  who  has  got  the  spirit  of  IMormonism  in 
you,  the  spirit  that  Joseph  and  Hyrum  had,  or  that  we  have  here, 
would  say,  '  Let  us  hear  both  sides  of  the  question.  Let  us  listen 
and  prove  all  things.'  What  do  you  want  to  prove  ?  Do  you 
want  to  prove  that  an  old  apostate,  who  has  been  cut  off  from  the 
church  thirteen  times  for  lying,  is  anything  worthy  of  notice  ?  I 
heard  that  a  certain  picture-maker  in  this  city,  when  the  boys 
would  have  moved  away  the  wagon  in  which  this  apostate  was 
standing,  became  violent  with  them,  saying,  '  Let  this  man  alone; 
these  are  saints  that  you  are  persecuting.'     [Sneeringly.] 

"  We  want  such  men  to  go  to  California,  or  anywhere  they 
choose.  I  say  to  those  persons,  '  You  must  not  court  persecution 
here,  lest  you  get  so  much  of  it  you  will  not  know  what  to  do  with 
it.  Do  NOT  court  persecution.'  We  have  known  Gladden  Bishop 
for  more  than  twenty  years,  and  know  him  to  be  a  poor,  dirty 
curse.  Here  is  sister  Vilate  Kimball,  brother  Heber's  wife,  has 
borne  more  from  that  man  than  any  other  woman  on  earth  could 
bear;  but  she  won't  bear  it  again.  I  say  again,  you  Gladdcnites, 
do  not  court  persecution,  or  you  will  get  more  than  you  want,  and 
it  will  come  quicker  than  you  want  it. 


"beigham  as  president  of  the  church.     135 

"  I  say  to  you,  Bishops,  do  not  allow  them  to  preach  in  your 
wards.  Who  broke  the  roads  to  these  valleys?  Did  this  little 
nasty  Smith,  and  his  wife  ?  No.  They  stayed  iu  St.  Louis  while 
we  did  it,  peddling  ribbons,  and  kissing  the  gentiles.  I  know 
what  they  have  done  here,  —  they  have  asked  exorbitant  prices 
for  their  nasty,  stinking  ribbons.  [Voices,  '  That 's  true.']  We 
broke  the  roads  to  this  country. 

"  Now,  you  Gladdenites,  keep  your  tongues  still,  lest  sudden 
destruction  come  upon  you.  I  say,  rather  than  that  apostates 
should  flouinsh  here,  I  will  unsheathe  my  bowie-knife,  and  conquer 
or  die.  [Great  commotion  in  the  congregation,  and  a  simultane- 
ous burst  of  feeling,  assenting  to  the  declaration.]  Now,  you  nasty 
apostates,  clear  out,  or  '  judgment  will  be  laid  to  the  line,  and 
righteousness  to  the  plummet.'  [Voices  generally,  '  Go  it,  go  it.'] 
If  you  say  it  is  all  right,  raise  your  hands.  [All  hands  up.]  Let 
us  call  upon  the  Lord  to  assist  us  in  this  and  every  other  good 
work."  * 

In  the  same  discourse  he  commanded  the  Bishops  to  "  kick 
these  men  out  of  their  wards,"  and  warned  the  apostates 
themselves  that  "  they  were  not  playing  with  shadows,"  but 
"  it  was  the  voice  and  the  hand  of  the  Almighty  they  were 
trying  to  play  with,  and  they  would  find  themselves  mistaken 
if  they  thought  to  the  contrary." 

In  accordance  with  this  bloody  teaching,  many  unfortunate 
apostates  who  were  unwilling  or  unable  to  leave  the  country, 
"  bit  the  dust."  They  felt  the  literal  edge  of  the  bowie-knife 
thus  from  the  pulpit  unsheathed  for  their  destruction.  Many 
of  the  murders  committed  during  the  succeeding  six  or  seven 
years  were  fully  authorized  by  these  instructions  ;  and  yet 
Brighara,  unable  to  deny  that  they  had  been  committed,  has 
openly  boasted  that  his  enemies  have  been  unable  to  trace 
any  of  them  to  him,  and  fasten  them  upon  him. 

He  unsheathes  the  bowie-knife,  and  issues  a  general  man- 
date ;  but  when  the  murder  of  some  individual  dissenter  is 
brought  to  his  door,  he  turns  away  and  says,  "  Thou  canst 
not  say,  I  did  it." 

*  March  27, 1853.    Jour,  of  Dis.,  Vol.  I.  p.  82. 


136         BRIGHAM  AS  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

The  second  organized  opposition  to  Young  was  made  by 
Joseph  Morris  and  his  followers. 

The  rise  and  progress  and  subsequent  history  of  the  peo- 
ple called  "  Morrisites,"  is  as  follows  :  — 

On  the  19th  of  November,  18G0,  a  man  dressed  in  ordinary 
working-clothes  wended  his  way  on  foot  from  Slatersville,  a 
settlement  in  Weber  County,  north  of  Salt  Lake,  to  the  Holy 
City.  This  was  Joseph  Morris,  and  the  object  of  his  visit 
was  to  deliver  to  Brigham  Young  two  letters  which  he  had 
written,  under  the  supposed  influence  of  the  Spirit. 

It  seems  that  for  some  reason  the  life  of  Morris  had  been 
threatened,  and  having  been  driven  from  the  place  where  he 
had  been  living,  he  was  now  going  to  appeal  to  the  President 
in  person  for  protection.  Morris  had  received,  previous  to 
this  time,  many  revelations,  t;ome  of  which  looked  to  a  puri- 
fication of  the  church,  —  all  of  which  he  had  communicated  to 
Brigham  and  the  Apostles. 

On  his  way  to  Salt  Lake  he  met  John  Cook,  brother  of 
Richard  Cook,  at  that  time  a  Mormon  Bishop,  presiding  at 
South  Weber.  To  him  Morris  communicated  his  views  and 
projects,  and  made  so  favorable  an  impression  that  both  the 
Cooks  soon  afterward  espoused  his  cause,  and  became  his 
aealous  supporters. 

Morris  delivered  his  letters  to  the  President  at  his  resi- 
dence, but  received  no  reply. 

He'then  proceeded  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Cook,  on  the  Weber 
River,  about  thirty  miles  northward  from  the  city. 

Not  only  the  Cooks,  but  a  number  of  their  neighbors,  now 
began  to  entertain  favorable  opinions  of  the  claim  of  their 
new  acquaintance  to  inspiration. 

Others  who  conceived  that  the  divine  right  of  Brigham 
was  being  endangered  or  infringed  upon,  determined  to  put 
Morris  to  death,  or  drive  him  from  their  midst.  But  Bishop 
Cook  stood  in  the  way. 

In  this  emergency  President  Young  was  appealed  to,  who 
sent  two  high  ecclesiastics,  Messrs.  John  Taylor  and  Will- 


BEIGHAM  AS  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  CHURCH.       137 

ford  Woodruff,  both  Apostles,  to  investigate  the  matter. 
They  appointed  a  general  meeting  at  South  "Weber,  and 
invited  the  Bishops  of  the  surrounding  settlements,  with  as 
many  of  their  people  as  possibly  could,  to  attend. 

The  meeting  convened  on  the  11th  of  February,  1861, 
and  the  delegates  commenced  their  court  of  inquiry  by  de- 
manding whether  there  was  a  man  in  the  ward  who  professed 
to  be  a  propliet?  And  whether  there  were  any  individuals 
who  entertained  him,  or  professed  faith  in  his  claims  ? 

To  the  astonishment  and  consternation  of  the  Mormons, 
seventeen  of  the  believers,  with  Bishop  Cook  at  their  head, 
arose  and  declared  that  they  would  enjoy  and  defend  the 
right  of  conscience,  by  adhering  to  their  new  faith,  though  it 
'should  bring  upon  them  the  most  bitter  persecution,  and  the 
loss  of  their  lives.  An  old  man  named  Watts  arose,  and  in 
an  inflammatory  speech,  recommended  that  the  adherents  of 
the  new  Prophet  should  be  "  cut  off  under  the  chin,"  and  laid 
away  in  the  brush ;  at  the  same  time  accompanying  his 
words  with  a  motion  of  the  hand,  drawing  it  across  his 
throat.  This,  he  said,  was  what  ought  to  be  done,  according 
to  his  understanding  of  the  laws  of  the  church. 

After  some  further  discussion,  in  which  Watts  was  boldly 
rebuked  by  Cook  for  the  utterance  of  such  sentiments,  the 
question  was  put  to  the  parties  on  trial,  whether  they  believed 
that  Brigham  Young  was  a  Prophet,  Seer,  and  Revelator. 
They  all  answered  in  the  negative.  Mr.  Taylor  testified 
that  he  knew  Brigham  to  be  such,  and  said  those  who  believed 
to  the  contrary  must  be  excommunicated  from  the  church. 
They  were  then  subjected  to  the  process  of  excommunica- 
tion. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  right  of  Brigham  to  preside 
over  the  church  as  its  temporal  head,  was  not  questioned  by 
Morris  or  his  followers. 

From  this  time  the  followers  of  Morris  increased  in  num- 
bers with  wonderful  rapidity. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  1861,  five  persons  were  baptized  into 


138        BRIGHAM  AS  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

the  new  church  in  the  "Weber  River.  On  the  same  day  of 
the  same  month,  thirty-one  years  previous,  the  Mormon 
Church  had  been  instituted  by  the  baptism  of  six  persons. 
Encouraged  by  this  augury,  a  church  was  organized,  and  the 
work  commenced  in  earnest.  Converts  flocked  to  them  from 
all  parts  of  the  Territory. 

In  three  months  the  new  church  numbered  about  three 
hundred  persons.  Its  highest  number  did  not  exceed  five 
hundred. 

In  the  mean  time  difficulties  arose  between  them  and  the 
surrounding  Mormons.  The  Morrisites  refused  to  train  as 
militia.  Heavy  fines  were  imposed  in  consequence,  and  much 
property  sold  on  execution  for  their  payment. 

These  tines  and  exactions  were  increased  until  the  Morris- 
ites refused  longer  to  submit  to  them.  A  number  of  fines  of 
$60  each  had  been  imposed.  When  the  sheriff  appeared  and 
proposed  to  arrest  those  who  would  not  or  could  not  pay,  he 
was  resisted.  Further  proceedings  were  then  suspended  for 
the  present. 

In  the  spring  of  1862  a  team,  consisting  of  two  yoke  of 
cattle,  which  had  been  sent  to  mill  from  the  INIorrisite  settle- 
ment, was,  together  with  a  load  of  flour,  seized  and  retained 
by  one  William  Jones,  who  threatened  in  like  manner  to 
retain  all  that  should  be  sent  until  some  difficulties  between 
him  and  them  should  be  settled  to  his  satisfaction.  The 
Morrisites,  standing  in  immediate  need  of  the  flour,  sent  a 
posse  of  men,  and  took  not  only  the  flour,  but  Jones  and  two 
associates  prisoners. 

Application  was  now  made  to  Cliief  Justice  Kinney,  who 
immediately  issued  writs  for  the  arrest  of  the  leading  Mor- 
risites, and  writs  of  habeas  corpus  for  the  Mormons  held  in 
custody. 

These  writs  being  disregarded,  a  posse  of  several  hundred 
men,  headed  by  Robert  T.  Burton,  sheriS"  of  Salt  Lake 
County,  well  armed  and  equipped,  and  having  several  pieces 
of  cannon,  were  sent  to  execute  the  writs,  and  enforce  obe- 


BRIGHAM  AS  PRESIDENT   OF  THE  CHURCH.       139 

dience.  This  force  was  augmented  on  the  Avay  by  volunteers, 
and  additional  arms,  until  thej  approached  the  settlement  of 
the  Morrisitcs,  with  a  force  of  about  a  thousand  well-armed 
men,  and  five  pieces  of  artillery. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  of  June,  some  of  the 
posse  appeared  on  the  heights  above  South  Weber  settlement, 
and  took  possession  of  the  Morrisites'  cow-herd,  killing  such 
as  they  desired  for  beef.  During  the  morning,  Sheriif  Bur- 
ton sent  a  proclamation  to  the  leaders  within  the  Morrisite 
"fort,"  —  for  such  they  had  constructed,  —  calling  upon  them 
to  come  out  and  deliver  themselves  up,  according  to  the  re- 
quirements of  the  writs  in  his  hands,  and  wai-ning  them  of 
the  consequences,  if  they  refused. 

This  not  being  responded  to,  about  an  hour  later  the  posse, 
most  of  whom  had  been  hitherto  out  of  sight,  commenced  to 
defile  over  the  bluffs,  and  to  occupy  a  prominent  position 
commanding  the  camp. 

Morris  now  called  a  meeting  of  those  within  the  fort. 
Scarcely  had  they  assembled,  when  a  cannon-ball  came  into 
the  congregation,  killed  two  women,  and  wounded  a  girl. 
From  this  time  cannonading  and  musketry  fire  was  contin- 
ued with  but  little  intermission. 

The  camp  consisted  of  a  few  houses  built  of  willows,  like 
basket-work,  and  plastered,  and  of  tents,  and  covered  wagons. 
Still  the  fight  was  kept  up  by  these  deluded  people  for  three 
days,  during  all  which  time,  fighting  with  the  energy  of  des- 
peration, they  held  this  immense  force  at  bay.  On  the  eve- 
ning of  the  third  day,  a  white  flag  was  raised,  and  the  whole 
camp  surrendered.  The  Morrisites  stacked  their  arms,  under 
guard  of  a  detail  from  the  posse,  who  had  by  this  time  entered 
the  fort. 

Amidst  much  confusion,  the  men  and  women  were  sepa- 
rated, and  large  numbers  of  the  men  were  placed  under  arrest. 
Morris,  and  a  leader  by  the  name  of  Banks  were  shot  in  cold 
blood ;  also  two  of  the  women.  All  these  vyere  killed  after 
the  Morrisites  were  unarmed,  and  their  arms  in  the  posses- 


140         BKIGHAM  AS  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

sion  of  tbe  sberiflP.  The  posse  had  two  men  killed.  The 
Morrisites  ten  in  all. 

After  the  Morrisites  had  been  taken  prisoners,  their  houses 
were  searched  and  plundered,  and  property,  consisting  of 
watches,  jewelry,  clothing,  &c.,  taken,  to  the  amount  of  many 
hundreds  of  dollars. 

The  prisoners  were  taken  to  Salt  Lake  City,  and  placed 
under  bonds  by  Judge  Kinney  for  their  appearance  at  his 
court.  They  were  afterwards  tried,  and  large  numbers  of 
them  were  fined  and  imprisoned.  All  of  those  imprisoned 
were  afterward  pardoned  and  released  by  Governor  Harding. 

Thus  ended  "  the  Morrisite  War."  The  Morrisites  were 
now  "  scattered  and  peeled,"  and  so  remained  until  May, 
1863.  At  that  time  Gen.  Connor  established  a  military 
post  at  Soda  Springs,  a  beautiful  place  at  the  northern  bend 
of  Bear  River,  about  175  miles  north  of  Salt  Lake  City. 
Before  starting  with  his  expedition,  Gen.  Connor  gave 
notice  that  all  persons  wishing  to  go  uj)  and  form  a  settle- 
ment at  that  point,  would  be  furnished  by  him  with  trans- 
portation. The  result  was,  that  about  eighty  families,  con- 
sisting of  over  two  hundred  persons,  nearly  all  Morrisites, 
availed  themselves  of  this  offer,  —  removed,  with  their  goods 
and  household  gods,  and  established  themselves  at  Soda 
Springs. 

This  settlement  continues  to  exist  and  flotirish,  and  may 
now  be  looked  upon,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  as  a  permanent  point 
where  the  weary  emigrant  may  pause  and  rest  on  his  long 
journey  over  the  Plains,  and  be  free  from  the  whims,  ex- 
actions, and  dangers  of  Mormonism.  The  place  is  now  in 
Idaho  Territory,  and  returned  eighty-one  votes  at  the  terri- 
torial election  of  1864. 

Although  the  court  and  juries  were  fast  to  bring  to  pun- 
ishment those  who  had  resisted  the  writs,  yet  Burton,  the 
leader  of  the  posse,  who  shot  four  persons  after  they  had 
surrendered,  was  not  even  indicted  by  a  Mormon  grand  jury. 
The  evidence  was  laid  before  them,  but  without  avail. 


BRIGHAM  AS  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  CHURCH.         141 

The  following  afSdavit  of  a  man  of  much  respectability, 
now  residing  at  Soda  Springs,  shows  what  was  the  conduct 
of  Burton  on  the  occasion  alluded  to :  — 

"United  States  of  America,) 
Territory  of  Utah.         j 

"  Alexander  Dow,  of  said  Territory,  being  duly  sworn,  says  : 

"  In  the  spring  of  1861, 1  joined  the  Morrisltes,  and  was  present 
when  Joseph  Morris  was  killed.  The  Morrisites  had  surrendered, 
a  white  flag  was  flying,  and  the  arms  were  all  grounded  and 
guarded  by  a  large  number  of  the  posse. 

"Robert  T.  Burton  and  Judson  L.  Stoddard  rode  in  amongst 
the  Morrisites.  Burton  was  much  excited.  He  said,  '  Where  is 
the  man  ?  I  don't  know  him.'  Stoddard  replied,  '  That 's  him,' 
pointing  to  Morris.  Burton  rode  his  horse  upon  Morris,  and  com- 
manded him  to  give  himself  up  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.  Morris 
replied,  '  No,  never,  never.'  Morris  said  he  wanted  to  speak  to 
the  people.  Burton  said,  '  Be  d — d  quick  about  it.'  Morris  said, 
'Brethren,  I've  taught  you  true  principles,'  —  he  had  scarcely 
got  the  words  out  of  his  mouth  before  Burton  fired  his  revolver. 
The  ball  passed  in  his  neck  or  shoulder.  Burton  exclaimed, 
'  There  's  your  Prophet.'  He  fired  again,  saying,  '  What  do  you 
think  of  your  Prophet  now  ?  ' 

"  Burton  then  turned  suddenly  and  shot  Banks,  who  was  stand- 
ing five  or  six  paces  distant.  Banks  fell.  Mrs.  Bowman,  wife  of 
James  Bowman,  came  running  up,  crying,  '  Oh !  you  blood-tliirsty 
wretch.'  Burton  said,  '  No  one  shall  tell  me  that  and  live,'  and 
shot  her  dead.  A  Danish  woman  then  came  running  up  to  Mor- 
ris, crying,  and  Burton  shot  her  dead  also.  Burton  could  easily 
have  taken  Morris  and  Banks  prisoners,  if  he  had  tried.  I  was 
standing  but  a  few  feet  fi-om  Burton  all  this  time.  And  further 
saith  not. 

"  Alexander  Dow. 

♦«  Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me,  this  18th  day  of  April, 
A.  D.  1863. 

"Charxes  B.  Waite, 

"  Associate  Just.,  U.  T." 

This  Burton  is  the  same  man  who  is  now  the  Collector  of 
Internal  Revenue  for  Utah  Territory  ! 

The  next  movement,  and  one  which  promises  sei'iously  to 


142         BRIGHAM  AS   rRESIDENT   OF  THE  CHURCn. 

interfere  with  the  schemes  of  Brigham  Young,  is  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Mormon  Church  East,  or  the  "  Josephites," 
as  they  are  called,  in  contradistinction  to  the  "  Brighamites." 

Jo.-eph  Smitli,  the  son  of  the  Prophet,  resides  at  Nauvoo, 
in  IlUnois,  near  where  his  father  was  put  to  death.  He 
claims  to  be  the  head  of  the  true  Mormon  Church,  and  of 
course  repudiates  Young  for  the  same  position.  He  is 
opposed  to  polygamy,  is  loyal  to  the  Government  and  laws 
of  the  United  States,  and  is  said  to  be  a  good  and  worthy 
citizen. 

For  several  years  there  have  been  indications  of  a  "  break- 
ing up  "  among  the  followers  of  the  Pretender,  Brigham,  and 
a  rallying  around  the  standard  of  the  legitimate  House  of 
Joseph.  In  the  States,  those  who  have  gone  back  to  their 
first  love  are  to  be  numbered  by  thousands. 

In  Utah  the  progress  of  disintegration,  and  of  secession 
from  the  church  as  there  organized,  is  slower,  and  accom- 
panied by  more  danger. 

But  in  July,  1863,  the  "  fulness  of  time  "  having  come,  the 
movement  was  commenced  in  earnest,  and  a  system  of  prose- 
lyting inaugurated,  which  has  already  drawn  hundreds  of 
deluded  people  back  to  their  duty  to  themselves  and  their 
country,  and  which  even  now  threatens  the  power  of  Brig- 
ham so  strongly  that  it  seems  almost  tottering  to  its  fall. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  month  mentioned,  E.  C. 
Briggs  and  Alexander  McCord,  two  missionaries,  sent  by 
the  Church  East,  for  that  purpose,  arrived  in  Salt  Lake,  and 
announced  themselves  as  harbingers  of  a  better  gospel,  —  as 
messengers  of  the  true  Church  of  Christ  on  earth.  Taking 
their  lives  in  their  hands,  they  had  crossed  the  Plains  alone, 
and  the  Lord 'had  protected  and  sustained  them. 

It  may  be  supposed  that  their  arrival  caused  considerable 
excitement  at  Salt  Lake  City. 

Briggs  called  on  Young  and  acquainted  him  with  the  na- 
ture of  his  "  mission."  The  Prophet  became  very  angry ; 
refused  him  the  use  of  the  Tabernacle,  or  any  other  building 


BRIGHAM  AS   PRESIDENT   OF   THE  CHURCH.        145 

in  the  city  ;  forbade  him  preaching  to  the  people,  and  said 
if  he  remained  in  the  city,  he  (Young)  would  not  be  respon- 
sible for  his  personal  safety.  Briggs  declined  to  avail  him- 
self of  this  polite  hint  to  leave ;  and  notwithstanding  these 
thunders  from  the  Vatican,  he  went  boldly  to  woi-k,  and 
"  daily  ceased  not  to  teach  and  preach  Jesus  Christ." 

He  talked  with  the  people,  visited  them  at  their  houses, 
prayed  with  them,  and  sang  with  them. 

The  effect  was  electrical.  Singly,  by  dozens,  and  by 
scores,  the  people  began  to  fall  off  from  the  great  apostasy, 
and  to  return  to  the  mother-church.  Persecution  commenced 
fi'ora  the  first  day  of  his  labors.  He  and  McCord  were  for- 
bidden all  the  houses  of  the  city,  by  an  order  of  Brigham 
which  none  dared  to  disobey.  One  house,  that  of  a  gentile, 
was  still  open  to  them,  and  there  they  held  their  meetings, 
which  were  well  attended. 

Before  spring  their  numbers  had  increased  to  over  three 
hundred.  About  half  of  that  number  returned  across  the 
Plains  in  the  spring  of  1864,  and  so  strong  was  the  excite- 
ment, and  so  bitter  the  persecution  and  enmity  of  the  "saints  " 
toward  this  comparatively  handful  of  seceders  from  Brig- 
ham's  authority  and  dominions,  that  Gen.  Connor  deemed  it 
necessary  and  advisable  to  send  a  strong  escort  with  them  as 
far  as  Green  River,  about  145  miles. 

Besides  this  number  who  departed  for  the  region  of  the 
rising  sun,  large  numbers  of  the  westward-bound  emigration 
were  stopped,  and  having  their  eyes  opened  by  missionaries 
of  the  same  stamp,  were  induced  to  withhold  their  steps,  at 
least  until  another  season. 

The  Josephites  in  Salt  Lake,  although  the  subjects  of 
bitter  and  unrelenting  persecution  from  the  Mormons,  found 
favor  and  protection  from  Gen.  Connor  and  the  military 
under  his  command. 

They  will  doubtless  continue  to  flourish  and  increase,  and 
it  is  possible  that  in  this  way  Utah  may  be  brought  to  loyalty 
and  good  citizenship,  without  bloodshed  or  commotion.  It  is 
10 


146        BRIGHAM  AS   PRESIDENT   OF   THE  CHURCH. 

but  a  possibility,  however,  as  Brigham  will  not  see  himself 
thus  undermined  without  de-perate  efforts  to  prevent  it. 

In  Europe  whole  churches  have  already  changed,  or  "  gone 
over,"  from  the  apostasy  of  Biigham  to  the  old  church,  with 
Joseph  at  its  head. 

Briggs  is  President  of  the  Twelve  Apostles,  and  is  admi- 
rably fitted  for  the  work  bffore  him.  He  is  a  man  of  great 
energy  and  heroism,  and  takes  hold  of  his  mighty  task  as 
though  it  were  but  the  work  of  a  summer  day.  Nowhere 
can  be  found  a  better  exemplification  of  the  self-sacrifice  and 
sublime  heroism  of  the  Christians  of  the  Middle  Ages. 

The  following  are  the  Articles  of  Faith  of  the  Church  of 
Jesus  Christ  of  Latter  Day  Saints,  under  the  presidency  of 
Joseph  Smith,  son  of  Joseph  the  Martyr  :  —  ''•? 

"  We  believe  in  God,  the  Eternal  Father,  and  his  Son  Jesus 
Christ,  and  in  the  Holy  Ghost. 

"  We  believe  that  men  will  be  punished  for  their  own  sins,  and 
not  for  Adam's  transgressions. 

"  We  believe  that  through  the  atonement  of  Christ,  all  mankind 
may  be  saved  by  obedience  to  the  laws  and  ordinances  of  the 
gospel. 

"  We  believe  that  these  ordinances  are  :  1st.  Faith  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ ;  2d.  Repentance  ;  3d.  Baptism  by  immersion  for  the 
remission  of  sins  ;  4th.  Laying  on  of  hands  for  the  gift  of  the  Holy 
Spirit ;  5th.  The  Lord's  Supper. 

"  We  believe  that  men  must  be  called  of  God,  by  inspiration, 
and  by  laying  on  of  hands  by  those  who  are  duly  commissioned  to 
preach  the  gospel,  and  administer  in  the  ordinances  thereof. 

"  We  believe  in  the  same  organization  that  existed  in  the 
primitive  church,  viz. :  Apostles,  Prophets,  Pastors,  Teachers, 
Evangehsts,  &c. 

"  We  believe  in  the  powers  and  gifts  of  the  everlasting  gospel, 
viz.,  the  gift  of  faith,  discoursing  of  spirits,  prophecy,  revelation, 
visions,  healing,  tongues  and  the  intrepretatiou  of  tongues,  wis- 
dom, charity,  brotherly  love,  &c. 

"  We  believe  the  word  of  God  recorded  in  the  Bible ;  we  also 
believe  the  word  of  God  recorded  in  the  Book  of  Mormon,  and  in 
all  other  good  books. 


BRIGHAM  AS  PRESIDENT  OF   THE  CHURCH.       147 

"  "We  beKeve  all  that  God  has  revealed,  all  that  he  does  now 
reveal,  and  we  believe  that  he  will  yet  reveal  many  more  great 
and  important  things,  pertaining  to  the  kingdom  of  God  and 
Messiah's  second  coming. 

"  We  believe  in  the  literal  gathering  of  Israel,  and  in  the  resto- 
ration of  the  ten  tribes ;  that  Zion  will  be  established  upon  the 
Western  Continent ;  that  Christ  will  reign  personally  upon  the 
earth  a  thousand  years ;  and  that  the  earth  will  be  renewed,  and 
receive  its  paradisaical  glory. 

"  "We  believe  in  the  literal  resurrection  of  the  body  ;  that  the 
dead  in  Christ  will  rise  first,  and  that  the  rest  of  the  dead  do  not 
live  again  until  the  thousand  years  are  expired. 

"  We  believe  in  being  subject  to  kings,  queens,  presidents, 
rulers,  and  magistrates ;  in  obeying,  honoring,  and  sustaining  the 
law. 

"  We  beheve  in  being  virtuous,  chaste,  temperate,  benevolent, 
and  in  doing  good  to  all  men. 

"  We  believe  that  the  church  in  Utah,  under  the  presidency  of 
Brigham  Young,  have  apostatized  from  the  true  order  of  the  gos- 
pel. 

"  We  believe  that  the  doctrines  of  polygamy,  human  sacrifice, 
or  killing  men  to  save  them,  Adam  being  God,  Utah  being  Zion,  or 
the  gathering  place  for  the  saints,  are  doctrines  of  devils,  instituted 
by  wicked  men,  for  the  accomplishment  of  their  own  lustful  desires, 
and  with  a  view  to  their  personal  aggrandizement. 

"  We  believe  in  being  true  and  loyal  to  the  Government  of  the 
United  Slates,  and  have  no  sympathy  or  fellowship  for  the  treason- 
able practices  or  wicked  abominations  indorsed  by  Brigham  Young 
and  his  followers." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

BRIGHAM  AS  TRUSTEE  IN  TRUST  FOR  THE  CHURCH. 

Kature  of  the  Trusteeship.  —  The  Titliing   System.  —  Brigham's  Private 
Speculations.  —  The  Emigration  Fund.  —  The  Hand-Cart  Companv. 

—  "  He  was  a  man 
"Who  stole  the  livery  of  the  Court  of  Heaven 
To  serve  the  Devil  in ;  in  virtue's  guise 
Devoured  the  widow's  house  and  orphan's  bread; 
In  holy  phrase,  transacted  villanies 
That  common  sinners  durst  not  meddle  with." 

As  Trustee  in  Trust  for  the  Church,  Brigham  Young  is 
in  his  element.  Here  his  genius  shuies  preeminent,  giving 
him  the  character,  at  home  and  abroad,  of  a  good,  as  he  cer- 
tainly is  a  successful,  financier. 

But  here,  upon  the  outset,  let  no  one  be  misled  by  the 
words  employed  to  designate  the  capacity  in  which  he  han- 
dles and  manages  the  funds  of  the  church.  It  is  called  a 
*'  trust,"  because  he  is  supposed  to  use  the  money  for  the 
benefit  of  the  church. 

But  this  Trust  is  very  general  and  indefinite  in  its  charac- 
ter. It  has  no  prescribed  duties  or  conditions.  It  has  no 
guards  or  limits.  It  has  no  prescribed  nor  achioivledged 
mode  of  accountability. 

Many  years  ago,  attempts  were  made  at  the  General  Con- 
ferences, to  exhibit  a  balance-sheet  of  receipts  and  disburse- 
ments. These  were  confused  and  unsatisfactory ;  and  lest 
they  should  be  too  closely  examined,  they  have  of  late  years 
been  entirely  abandoned,  —  the  increasing  faith  of  the  saints 
in  their  leader  rendering  it  entirely  unnecessary  that  any 
explanation  should  be  made  of  the  disposal  of  their  funds. 


BRIGHAM  AS  TRUSTEE  IN  TRUST  FOR  THE  CHURCH.  149 

Again  :  a  corps  of  clerks  are  employed  in  the  titlilng-office, 
and  are  paid  out  of  the  public  tithing-fund  salaries  ranging 
from  $1000  upwai'ds.  They  are  supposed  to  keep  a  com- 
plete system  of  accounts,  showing  all  the  receipts  from  this 
net-work  of  fiscal  veins,  and  all  the  disbursements  through 
the  various  arteries  of  the  religious  body.  But  beyond  the 
receipt  and  deposit  of  moneys,  and  the  keeping  of  the  tith- 
ing account  with  individual  members  of  the  church,  the 
duties  of  these  clerks  are  merely  nominal.  Each  has  an 
other  part  to  perform.  The  reader  will  smile  to  be  informed 
that  these  clerks  are  really  the  principal  stock  actors  in  the 
Salt  Lake  Theatre.  Having  but  little  office  business,  their 
time  is  thus  turned  to  a  good  account,  reading  novelettes  and 
newspapers,  a  plentiful  supply  of  which  may  be  found  in 
their  several  offices.  The  theatre  is  the  private  property  of 
Brigham,  and  the  proceeds  go  into  his  own  pocket,  discon- 
nected with  any  real  or  imaginary  embarrassment  arising 
from  the  relation  of  Trustee.  Hence  it  will  be  seen  to  be 
good  "  financiering  "  for  the  tithing-clerks,  under  pay  of  "  the 
church,"  to  perform  for  the  benefit  of  "  Brother  Brigham." 
Should  they  fail  to  comply  with  his  wishes,  he  has  only,  as 
"  Trustee  in  Trust,"  to  dispense  with  their  services.  This 
may  be  mentioned  'as  a  notable  instance  of  the  "  shrewd 
financiering  "  of  Brigham  Young. 

These  clerks  simply  keep  the  accounts  with  individuals, 
and  receive  and  deposit  the  money  and  pi'operty  paid  in  to 
the  tithing-fund.  They  also  keep  the  accounts  of  laborers 
on  the  temple  and  other  public  works. 

It  is  needless  to  say  they  are  entirely  under  the  control  of 
Brigham.  According  to  the  Mormon  creed,  the  temporal 
affairs  of  the  kingdom  should  be  entirely  directed  and  con- 
trolled by  the  Aaronic  Priesthood.  The  presiding  Bishops 
of  this  priesthood  are  agents  to  perform  the  wiU  of  the  head 
of  the  order,  who  is  the  President  himself. 

To  keep  the  public  mind  quiet  and  satisfied,  it  is  stated 
from  the  pulpit  that  the  accounts  of  Brigham  Young,  as  an 


150   BEIGHAM  AS  TRUSTEE  IX  TRUST  FOR  THE  CHURCH. 

individual,  and  those  whicli  he  keeps  as  trustee  for  the  churcli, 
are  entirely  separate  and  distinct,  and  that  not  a  dollar  of 
church  money  goes  to  the  private  use  of  the  President  or 
his  family,  without  being  duly  charged  and  accounted  for. 
But  these  public  declarations  are  all  the  assurance  the  people 
have  that  such  is  the  fact.  The  system  of  book-keeping  by 
double  entry  is  entirely  ignored  as  an  invention  of  the  gen- 
tiles ;  and  if  an  investigation  of  the  accounts  should  be  insti- 
tuted, it  would  be  conducted  under  great  disadvantages,  and 
could  have  no  certainty  in  its  results. 

Notwithstanding  these  protestations  so  frequently  made 
trom  the  pulpit,  there  is  a  growing  conviction  among  the 
masses  that  the  increasing  evidences  of  the  individual  wealth 
of  Brigham,  notwithstanding  his  immense  outlays,  can  only 
be  accounted  for  in  one  way,  —  by  the  gradual  absorption 
and  assimilation  of  the  funds  of  the  church  with  his  own 
private  moneys.  Indeed  he  does  not  hesitate  to  affirm, 
boldly,  that  if  he  wishes  to  build  a  grist  or  a  saw-mill,  or  to 
engage  in  any  other  enterprise,  he  borrows  from  the  tithing 
or  other  public  funds  the  necessary  means,  paying  it  back 
by  instalments  when  convenient,  or  turning  in  some  other 
property  that  he  has  no  immediate  use  for.  In  these  private 
arrangements  and  trades,  between  himself  m  propria  persona 
and  himself  in  his  fiduciary  capacity,  it  is  not  to  be  supposed 
that  he  would  make  them  to  his  own  disadvantage,  or  that 
he  would  voluntarily  assume  losses  which  he  could  just  as 
well  throw  upon  the  church  at  large.  With  this  scape-goat 
upon  which  to  throw  his  unfortunate  speculations,  and  with 
a  large  revenue  derived  fi-om  legislative  gifts,  in  the  shape 
of  timber  canyons,  herding-grounds,  ferries,  and  other  fran- 
chises, it  is  not  strange  that  his  worldly  store  should  be  con- 
stantly and  largely  augmented.  He  boasts  that  he  takes  no 
thought  how  to  make  money  or  get  rich,  and  yet  riches  con- 
stantly flow  to  him.  He  has  said,  he  can  "  drop  dollar  for 
dollar  with  any  monarch  in  Europe."  He  looks  after  the 
Lord's  interests,  and  the  Lord  looks  after  his  interests ! 


BRIGHAM  AS  TRUSTEE  IN  TRUST  FOR  THE  CHURCH.  151 

The  following  are  some  of  the  principal  Legislative  Acts  in 
favor  of  Brighara  Young,  passed  by  the  Legislative  Assem- 
bly of  Utah:  — 

An  Act  in  relation  to  City  Creek  Canyon,  apprdved  De- 
cember 9,  1850.  This  gave  "Young  the  sole  control  of  City 
Creek  and  Canyon,  for  which  he  was  required  to  pay  into 
the  treasury  the  sum  of  $500.  Under  this  grant  Brigham 
exacts  from  those  getting  wood  in  the  canyon,  every  third 
load ;  and  as  this  is  the  only  wood  within  fifteen  miles  of  the 
city,  this  alone  is  the  soui-ce  of  an  immense  revenue.  Be- 
sides, he  has  built  upon  City  Creek  two  or  three  mills, — 
he  having  the  exclusive  use  of  the  water.  It  is  estimated 
that  Young's  income  from  this  canyon  alone  is  $10,000  per 
annum. 

An  Act  passed  Felruary  5th,  1852,  granting  to  Brigham 
Young  the  waters  from  the  channel  of  Mill  Creek. 

January  20,  1854.  An  Act  providing  that  all  property 
left  by  any  deceased  or  absconding  person,  to  which  there  is 
no  claimant,  shall  pass  into  the  Perpetual  Emigration  Fund. 
Brigham  is  President  of  this  Society,  and  custodian  of  the 
fund.  This  Act  adds  largely  to  the  income  of  the  Trustee 
President. 

January  19,  1855.  An  Act  appropriating  to  Brigham 
Young  $2500  for  building  an  Academy  in  Salt  Lake  City. 
The  Academy  was  never  built. 

December  18,  1855.  An  Act  granting' to  Brigham  Young 
exclusive  right  of  herd-ground  known  as  Kansas  Prairie. 

Same  date.  An  Act  granting  to  Brigham  Toung  the 
whole  of  Cache  Valley  for  a  herd-ground.  This  valley  is 
fifty  miles  long,  and  more  than  ten  miles  in  width,  and  the 
richest  and  most  productive  valley  in  the  Territory. 

December  27,  1855.  An  Act  granting  to  Brigham  Young 
all  of  Rush  Valley,  except  the  United  States  Reserve,  for  a 
herd-ground.     Another  extensive  tract  of  country. 

January  4,  1856.  An  Act  granting  to  Brigham  Young 
exclusive  right  to  establish  a  ferry  over  Bear  River. 


152    BRTGHAM  AS  TRUSTEE  IN  TRUST   FOR  THE  CHURCH. 

January  5,  185G.  An  Act  granting  to  Brigham  Young 
a  ranch  and  herd-ground  in  Lone  Rock  Valley. 

January  12,  1856,  An  Act  granting  to  Brigham  Young 
exclusive  right  to  control  the  road  and  coal-beds  in  Coal 
Canyon,  San  Pete  County. 

Saine  date.  An  Act  making  an  appropriati07i  to  Brigham 
Young  of  $1000  from  the  Territorial  Ireasury,  to  enable 
him  to  pay  for  a  share  in  the  Deseret  Iron  Company. 

January  22,  1864.  An  Act  authorizing  Brigham  Young 
to  establish  a  toll  on  the  Tooele  Road. 

After  reading  all  these  donations  and  munificent  fran- 
chises, one  can  ajuireciate  the  point  of  the  joke  perpetrated 
by  Brigham,  when  he  says  "  he  takes  no  thought  how  to  get 
rich,  and  yet  riches  constantly  flow  to  him." 

The  Tithing  System. 

Tlie  object  of  tithing,  as  stated  in  the  "  Book  of  Doctrines 
and  Covenants,"  is  to  exalt  the  poor,  and  humble  the  rich,  — 
taking  from  where  it  is  not  wanted  the  surplus  property  of 
the  church,  and  placing  it  where  it  is  needed.  The  law  of 
tithing,  as  originally  instituted,  calls  for  one  tenth  of  the  an- 
nual increase  and  gains,  after  providing  for  the  wants  of  the 
family.  When  the  poor  were  amply  supplied,  the  residue 
was  to  be  used  for  purchasing  inheritances  for  the  saints, 
building  houses  for  public  worship,  etc. 

Of  late  years,  however,  tithing  assumes  an  entirely  differ- 
ent form,  and  is  much  more  comprehensive  in  its  scope  and 
exacting  in  its  demands.  The  "  saints  "  in  Utah,  Europe,  and 
throughout  the  world,  are  required  to  pay  one  tenth  of  their 
income,  without  any  reference  to  their  ability  to  meet  the 
demand.  Thus  the  laboring  man  in  Utah,  who  receives  but 
one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  day,  —  not  enough  to  support 
his  family  comfortably,  —  is  assessed  tithing  to  the  amount 
of  about  ibrty-five  dollars  per  annum. 

But  this  is  not  all.  Every  emigrant  and  new-comer  is 
expected  to  pay  one  tenth  of  his  entire  possessions.     Upon 


BRIGHAM  AS  TRUSTEE  IX  TRUST  FOR  THE  CHURCH.  153 

tliis  point  much  strictness  prevails.  On  the  arrival  of  the 
taithful  in  Zion,  they  are  visited  by  a  bishop  and  clerk,  and 
inventories  of  all  their  property  taken.  One  tenth  of  every- 
thing must  then  be  sent  to  the  tithing-office,  not  even  except- 
ing household  furniture,  cooking  utensils,  or  clothing.  Should 
the  party  be  in  possession  of  a  little  money,  he  is  urged  to 
pay  the  tithing  all  in  cash. 

A  very  good  idea  of  the  extent  to  which  this  tithing  sys 
tern  is  carried  may  be  formed  from  the  following  tithing- 
song,  sung  at  a  meeting  of  one  of  the  quorums,  and  pub- 
lished in  the  "  Deseret  News,"  No.  6,  Vol.  V. :  — 

*'  TiTHING-SONG. 

lAir.    The  King  of  the  Cannibal  Islands.] 

'*  Come,  Mormons  all,  attention  pay, 
Whilst  I  attempt  to  sing  my  say  ; 
I  've  chosen  for  my  text  to-day, 
'  Come  forward,  and  pay  up  your  tithing.' 
These  may  not  be  the  very  words. 
Which  ancient  Holy  Writ  records ; 
But  Malacbi,  I  think,  affords 
A  verse  which  with  the  sense  accords. 
It  seems  that  he  had  cause  to  scold 
The  saints,  or  Israelites  of  old  ; 
In  fact,  they  needed  to  be  told, 
*  Come  forward,  and  pay  up  your  tithing.* 

Chorus. 
"  Then  if  to  prosper  you  desire, 
And  wish  to  keep  out  of  the  fire, 
Nay,  if  you  to  be  saints  aspire, 
Come  forward,  and  pay  up  your  tithing. 

"Just  as  it  was  in  the  olden  times. 
With  ancient  saints  in  other  climes. 
The  call  is  noiv,  '  Bring  out  your  dimes,'  — 
'  Come  forward,  and  pay  up  your  tithing.' 


154   BRIGIIAM  AS   TRUSTEE  IN   TRUST   FOR  THE  CHURCH. 

Our  Prophet  says, '  When  Elders  preach, 
The  law  of  tithing  they  should  teach ; 
Pay  up  themselves,  and  then  beseech 
All  those  who  come  within  their  reach.* 
Tills  makes  me  now  entreat  of  you 
To  follow  counsel ;  right  pursue ; 
And  whilst  all  evil  you  eschew, 
'  Come  forward,  and  pay  up  your  tithing.* 

Chorus. 
"  Then  if  to  prosper,  etc. 

♦'  Now,  male  and  female,  rich  and  poor, 
Who  wish  to  keep  your  standing  sure, 
That  you  salvation  may  secure, 
'  Come  forward,  and  pay  up  your  tithiag.' 
A  tenth,  that  is,  and  nothing  less, 
Of  all  you  do  or  may  possess. 
In  flocks  and  herds,  and  their  increase, 
With  pigs  and  poultry,  ducks  and  geese  : 
A  tenth,  indeed,  of  all  your  toil. 
Likewise  the  produce  of  the  soil ; 
And  if  you  've  any  wine  or  oil, 
*  Come  forward,  and  pay  up  your  tithing.' 


Chorus. 
"  Then  if  to  prosper,  etc. 

"Great  S.  L.  City,  1855." 


Henry  Maiben. 


Not  only  the  extent  of  tbis  exaction,  but  the  penalty  for 
non-payment,  is  fully  set  forlh  in  this  song,  to  wit,  exclusion 
from  the  church,  and  deprivation  of  all  spiritual  blessings. 
What  greater  penalty  can  be  placed  before  a  true  Mor- 
mon? 

The  administration  of  the  law  of  tithing  has  been  exces- 
sively cruel  in  Europe.  Many  of  the  saints  in  England, 
who,  from  infirmity,  age,  or  incapacity  to  labor,  have  been 
supported  by  the  parish,  receiving  one,  two,  or  three  shillings 
per  week,  have  been  anathematized  and  cut  off  from  the 


BRIGHAM  AS  TRUSTEE  IN  TRUST  FOR  THE  CHURCH.    155" 

cliui-ch,  because  they  could  not  pay  their  tithing  out  of  their 
parish  allowance,  and  support  life  from  the  remainder  ! 

From  the  European  Mission  alone,  over  $500,000  of  Brit- 
ish gold  has  found  its  way  into  the  pockets  of  Brigham 
Young.  No  account  has  ever  been  made  of  this  vast 
amount,  nor  is  there  any  public  work  or  project  requiring 
expenditure  of  church-money,  whicli  has  not  been  more  than 
provided  for  by  the  home  tithing-fund. 

The  poor  in  Utah  suffer  severely  from  this  exaction.  You 
may  see  famihes  barefooted,  women  and  children  nearly 
naked,  destitute  of  even  the  necessaries  of  life,  the  husband 
making  every  effort  to  meet  the  day  of  tithing,  fearful  of 
losing  his  soul's  salvation  should  he  fail.  Cases  of  extreme 
destitution  have  not  been,  in  former  years,  comparatively 
numerous  ;  but  as  the  rich  become  richer  and  the  poor  poorer, 
by  the  operation  of  this  system,  these  cases  become  more 
marked  and  frequent,  and  already  a  rumbling  of  discontent 
is  heard  among  the  masses,  which  occasionally  reaches  the 
throne,  and  which  will  soon  break  forth  in  loud  peals  of 
thunder,  demanding  justice  for  a  long  oppressed  and  out- 
raged people. 

Again,  there  is  a  standing  ti thing-price  which  must  be 
paid  for  flour  and  other  necessaries,  by  those  who  are  en- 
gaged upon  the  public  works,  or  who  are  obliged  to  work  for 
their  richer  brethren.  These  always  pay  their  laborers  in 
produce  at  tithing-prices.  But  these  prices  are  usually  far 
beyond  the  cash  value  of  the  same  article  in  the  market. 
In  1862-63,  the  tithing-ofRce  price  of  flour  was  $6  per 
hundred.  The  wages  of  workmen  were  nominally  $2 
per  day.  But  if  a  poor  saint  worked  for  his  more  afflu- 
ent brother,  as  in  most  cases  he  was  obliged  to  do,  he 
uniformly  received  his  pay  in  flour  at  $6.  It  was  not 
uncommon  to  see  a  laboring  man  going  home  at  night, 
with  his  sack  of  flour,  the  result  of  his  day's  work,  or  of  the 
labor  of  two  or  three  days.  At  the  same  time  the  market- 
price  of  flour  did  not  exceed  $3  per  hundred.     If  the  poor 


156  BRIGHAM  AS   TRUSTEE  IX  TRUST  FOR  THE  CHURCH. 

man,  who  was  obliged  to  take  all  his  pay  in  flour,  wished  to 
purchase  some  sugar  or  groceries  for  his  family,  he  must 
exchange  for  the  same  his  flour,  at  half  the  price  paid  for  it. 
Thus  did  the  dignitaries  of  the  church  "  grind  the  face  of  the 
poor." 

The  masses  were  induced  to  submit  to  this  state  of  things, 
by  the  assurance  that  flour  would  rise  to  a  price  much  greater 
than  $6,  and  when  it  should  do  so,  the  balance  would  be 
upon  the  other  side,  and  the  poor  would  be  the  gainers,  as 
they  should  never  pay  more  than  that  sum. 

In  the  winter  of  1863-64,  flour  rose  rapidly,  owing  to  the 
new  markets  opened  up  in  Idaho  and  other  mining  regions. 
Now  the  time  had  come  when  the  predictions  and  prophecies 
concerning  the  rise  of  flour  had  been  fulfilled.  But  the 
church  authorities,  notwithstanding  the  solemn  promises 
which  had  been  made  to  the  people,  raised  the  tithing-price 
of  flour  to  $12  per  hundred.  This  was  "the  last  straw  that 
broke  the  camel's  back,"  and  came  near  producing  a  revo- 
lution. One  day  a  workman  in  the  "church"  (alias 
Brigham's)  blacksmith  shop,  called  at  the  "  tithing-store " 
for  his  flour,  as  was  customary,  the  same  being  his  wages  for 
work  for  a  stated  period.  At  the  store  the  flour  was  weighed 
out,  and  he  was  given  a  ticket  at  $12  per  hundred.  This 
was  the  first  time  he  had  been  charged  over  $6.  The  black- 
smith left  his  bag  of  flour  at  the  store,  and  proceeded,  fired 
with  indignation,  to  the  President's  office.  Inquiring  for  him, 
he  was  told  the  President  was  out,  and  he  could  not  see  him. 
He  replied  he  must  see  him,  and  should  remain  until  he  did. 
After  some  time  the  President  appeared.  "  Brother  Brig- 
ham,"  said  the  excited  workman,  "  you  are  a  liar  and  a  hypo- 
crite." This  caused  a  great  excitement  at  once.  The  clerks 
sprang  instantly  from  tlieir  places,  some  surrounding  Brig- 
ham,  others  the  blacksmith.  The  latter  proceeded  :  "Plave 
you  not  re[)eatedly  given  the  people  your  solemn  promise 
that  tliey  should  never  be  charged  by  the  cliurch  over  $6  per 
hundred  for  flour  ?     You  with  your  wives  and  families  are 


BRIGHAM  AS   TRUSTEE  IN   TRUST   FOR  THE   CHURCH.    157 

rolling  in  wealth,  surrounded  with  everything  the  heart  can 
wish.  But  go  with  me,  and  1  will  show  you  cases  of  desti- 
tution and  suffering  which  will  cause  your  soul,  if  you  have 
one,  to  shudder  with  horror." 

The  clerks  were  here  oi-dered  to  put  him  out  of  the  office, 
which  was  done  immediately,  but  the  enraged  man,  now  that 
his  lips  were  unsealed,  continued  to  talk  in  a  loud  tone  of 
voice,  until  a  number  of  people,  attracted  by  curiosity,  gath- 
ered around  him.  To  them  he  explained  the  cause  of  the 
difficulty,  and  inveighed  in  unmeasured  terms  against  those 
who  were  living  in  luxury  and  extravagance  upon  the  indus- 
try and  hard-earned  savings  of  the  poor. 

The  crowd  was  finally  dispersed,  and  one  of  the  clerks  sent 
to  the  outraged  blacksmith  to  inform  him  that  he  could  have 
the  flour  at  $6.  He  replied  that  he  would  die  of  hunger  ere 
he  would  ever  taste  of  it  or  touch  it.  The  next  day  Brig- 
ham  drove  down  to  the  poor  man's  house,  taking  the  flour  in 
his  carriage,  and  induced  him  to  accept  it,  and  the  same  day 
the  tithing-price  of  flour  was  reduced  to  $6  per  hundred. 

The  best  articles  of  everything  paid  in  for  tithing  —  the 
choice  hams  and  beef,  the  best  butter,  cheese,  etc.  —  are  laid 
away  until  the  families  of  the  first  Presidency,  the  clerks,  and 
a  few  of  the  elect  are  supplied.  The  balance  is  served  out 
to  the  mechanics  and  laborers.  Thus  the  church  dignitaries 
literally  live  off  of  "  the  fat  of  the  land."  Often  when  butter, 
or  some  other  article  not  quite  so  abundant  as  usual,  is  called 
for  by  the  workman,  he  is  told  "  there  is  none  in  the  store," 
while  at  the  same  time  large  quantities  are  stowed  away  ;  and 
scarcely  is  he  out  of  sight,  before  some  member  of  higher 
standing  in  the  church  visits  the  same  store,  and  his  wants 
are  amply  supplied. 

As  Brigham  is  not  scrupulous  on  the  subject  of  appropri- 
ating the  means  of  the  "  church/'  that  is,  of  the  people,  minor 
officers,  as  Bishops  of  settlements,  do  not  hesitate  to  specu- 
late upon  their  own  account.  This  is  more  or  less  tolerated, 
according  to  the  faithfulness  of  the  party  to  the  interests  of 


158  BRIGHAM  AS   TRUSTEE  IX  TRUST   FOR  THE  CHURCH. 

the  heads  of  the  church,  and  his  diligence  in  "attending  to 
counsel,"  or,  in  other  words,  in  obeying  orders.  It  is  notori- 
ous that  tlie  Bishops  all  become  quickly  wealthy.  Appoint 
a  man  Bishop  of  a  settlement,  and  in  two  or  three  years  his 
fortune  is  made  ;  and  he  who  previously  lived  in  a  log-cabin, 
with  barely  the  necessaries  of  life,  is  soon  in  possession  of  a 
fine  house,  with  carriages,  horses,  &c.,  at  his  command. 
Every  Bishop  is  expected  to  "  build  up  the  kingdom "  by 
having  numerous  wives.  If  he  has  less  than  half  a  dozen,  he 
is  scarcely  considered  as  "doing  his  duty  to  the  church,"  and 
at  once  exposes  himself  to  remark,  if  not  to  censure. 

Many  incidents  might  be  mentioned  illustrative  of  the 
manner  in  which  property  is  accumulated  by  the  Bishops. 
When  the  army  under  Col.  Johnson  was  located  at  Camp 
Floyd,  a  Bishop  of  one  of  the  southern  settlements  sold  to 
the  officers  at  the  camp,  at  fifty  cents  per  pound,  all  the  butter 
which  had  been  paid  in  for  tithing,  and  accounted  for  it  at 
the  general  tithing-office,  at  the  tithing  price,  —  twenty-five 
cents  per  pound. 

Frequently  the  people  would  in  this  way  be  deprived  of 
luxuries  which  had  been  sold,  and  the  proceeds  of  which  had 
gone  into  the  pockets  of  the  Bishops  and  other  officers  of  the 
church.  On  one  occasion  Kimball  alluded  in  his  sermon  to 
the  complaints  of  the  people,  that  they  could  not  get  butter 
or  anything  else  to  eat  on  their  bread.  In  response  he  told 
them,  if  their  bread  was  hard  and  dry,  "  dip  it  in  City  Creek." 

On  the  departure  from  the  Territory  of  the  army  under 
Col.  Johnson,  Brigham  bought  a  large  quantity  of  bacon  at 
one  cent  per  pound,  selling  it  again  to  the  laborers  on  the 
public  works  at  twenty-five  cents.  The  large  contracts  of 
purchase  are  usually  awarded  to  him,  partly  because  he  has 
more  money  with  which  to  fulfil  them,  and  partly  because 
men  of  lesser  means  do  not  wish  to  cross  his  path,  by  inter- 
fering with  his  financial  operations.  A  large  quantity  of 
condemned  crackers  were  purchased  at  the  same  time,  at 
a  nominal  sum,  many   of  which  were  afterward  dealt  out 


BRIGHAM  AS  TRUSTEE  IN  TRUST  FOR  THE  CHURCH.  159 

to  the  laborers   on    the  public  works,   at  fifteen  cents  per 
pound. 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  saints  in  Utah,  their  attention 
was  especially  directed  to  the  building  of  a  temple.  Promises 
were  made  to  them,  that  upon  its  completion,  the  Saviour, 
together  with  angels,  would  enter  therein,  and  minister  unto 
those  who  remained  faithful.  There  they  were  to  receive  . 
blessings  that  could  be  obtained  in  no  other  place.  This  has 
been  held  out  as  a*  strong  inducement  for  the  payment  of 
money.  Over  $100,000  has  been  paid  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  this  object  by  the  British  saints  alone.  Not  a  dollar 
of  this  money  has  been  used  for  that  purpose,  as  all  that  has 
been  done  upon  the  temple  has  been  more  than  paid  for  by 
the  people  of  Utah.* 

The  work  upon  the  temple  has  proceeded  very  slowly,  and 
the  foundation  is  but  little  above  the  surface.  Many  of  the 
saints  are  dissatisfied  with  its  progress,  and  ask  each  other 
why  more  has  not  been  accomplished  during  the  fifteen  years 
that  have  rolled  away  since  its  commencement ;  and  espe- 
cially while  such  ample  means  have  been  constantly  on  hand, 
—  the  tithing  system  furnishing  an  immense  revenue,  and  no 
other  public  work  on  which  to  expend  it  ?  And  why  it  is 
that  $::00,000  should  be  expended  by  Brigham  Young  upon 
a  theatre  for  his  own  benefit,  and  nearly  as  much  more  upon 
a  hotel  now  being  built,  and  house  added  to  house  and  build- 
ing to  building  in  his  own  enclosure,  while  the  temple  is 
neglected  ?  These  questions  have  much  significance,  and 
doubtless  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  the  people  will 
insist  upon  an  answer  more  satisfactory  than  they  have  yet 
received. 

The  immense  fund  realized  from  the  tithing  system,  and 
which  is  constantly  at  Brigham's  disposal,  enables  him  to  im- 

*  Persons  who  are  known  to  possess  property,  are  called  upon  to  pay  for 
seats  in  the  temple.  A  lady  residing  in  one  of  the  northern  settlements, 
was  cajoled  into  paying  £50  for  that  purpose.  The  good  lady,  upon  arriv- 
ing in  Utah,  found  that  the  famous  temple,  in  which  she  had  purchased  a 
Beat,  was  scarcely  above  its  foundations. 


IGO  BRIGHAM  AS   TRUSTEE  IN  TRUST   FOR  THE  CHURCH. 

prove  many  opportunities  that  are  offered  for  private  spec- 
ulations. These  he  is  not  slow  to  perceive,  nor  does  he 
permit  any  advantage  of  tliat  kind  to  escape  him.  A  very 
common  speculation  is  to  send  a  brother  who  is  doing  well, 
and  accumulating  a  handsome  property,  upon  a  foreign  mis- 
sion. The  call  to  go  upon  a  mission  is  considered  a  trial  of 
the  brother's  faith,  and  he  is  not  expected  to  decline.  Should 
he  desire  to  sell  his  house  or  other  possessions,  rather  than  to 
leave  them  in  the  hands  of  agents,  brother  Brigham  stands 
ready  to  purchase  them  at  a  reduced  price.  In  this  way  a 
large  amount  of  property  falls  into  his  hands.  If  the  mission- 
ary returns  at  all,  he  comes  nearly  impoverished,  and  com- 
mences anevir  to  acquire  property. 

In  1862  there  were  two  distilleries  in  Salt  Lake  City,  the 
owners  of  which,  Moon  &  Bradley,  were  rapidly  increasing 
in  wealth.  Brigham  professed  much  indignation,  telling 
them  "  they  should  welter  in  hell  for  manufacturing  the  in- 
toxicating draught  to  destroy  their  brethren."  As  a  sort  of 
expiatory  act  for  their  offence  he  sent  them  upon  a  mission 
to  raise  cotton  in  Southern  Utah.  As  soon  as  they  were  gone, 
he  opened  a  distillery  himself,  in  the  name  and  under  the 
sanction  of  the  city  council,  under  pretence  of  regulating  the 
traffic  by  law.  Thus  he  managed  to  monopolize  the  large 
profits  from  the  manufacture  of  ardent  spirits,  an  immense 
quantity  of  which  is  used  in  Salt  Lake  City  and  throughout 
the  Territory. 

Among  the  various  inducements  held  out  to  the  poor  saints 
in  Europe,  has  been  the  promise  to  each  of  a  city  lot  in  Salt 
Lake,  of  one  acre  and  a  quarter,  upon  the  payment  of  the 
cost  of  survey,  $1.25.  On  their  arrival,  they  find  to  their 
astonishment,  although  there  are  plenty  of  vacant  and  un- 
fenced  lots,  that  they  have  to  pay  to  Young  or  Kimball  $100 
or  $150  for  a  lot.  On  one  occasion  a  poor  Dane  having 
purchased  a  lot  upon  credit,  built  a  small  house  upon  it,  but 
his  wife  falling  sick  he  was  unable  to  pay  for  the  lot  at  the 
time  agreed  upon.     Kimball  compelled  him  to  pull  down  the 


BRIGHAM  AS   TRUSTEE  IN  TRUST  FOR  THE  CHURCH.    161 

house  and  remove  the  material ;  and  the  Dane  was  obhged, 
in  consequence,  to  pass  the  winter,  with  his  family,  in  his 
covered  wagon.  Fortunately  the  winter  was  a  mild  one,  or 
they  might  have  perished. 

The  saints  are  fond  of  dancing,  and  in  the  winter  season 
social  parties  for  that  purpose  are  numerous.  Each  ward 
has  a  commodious  house,  built  by  taxation,  which  is  used  for 
schools  and  public  meetings.  But  for  dancing  their  use  is 
forbidden,  and  the  people  are  obliged  to  pay  Brigham  $100 
per  night  for  a  building  called  the  "  Social  Hall."  Yet  this 
hall  was  built  from  the  proceeds  of  tithing  paid  in  by  the 
very  people  who  are  thus  obliged  to  pay  for  the  rent  of  it! 

Mr.  Taussig,  a  simple  and  unpretending  man,  had  suc- 
ceeded in  establishing  a  substantial  tannery  well  stocked  with 
leather.  By  some  designing  persons  he  was  induced  to  re- 
fuse the  payment  of  his  taxes,  on  the  ground  that  they  were 
exorbitant,  and  the  Territorial  Collector  sold  the  property, 
which  was  bought  by  one  of  Brigham's  agents,  and  the  poor 
man  reduced  to  poverty. 

In  the  fall  of  1857,  Brigham  called  a  mass  meeting  ia 
the  Tabernacle,  and  after  dilating  upon  the  disadvantages  the 
people  were  laboring  under  in  being  without  a  currency, 
established  a  bank,  calling  upon  the  faithful  to  bring  in  all 
their  gold  and  silver,  and  receive  the  new  paper  currency  in 
exchange.  This  was  done.  In  a  few  months  the  bank  was 
suspended,  and  depositors  were  paid  in  labor  tithing,  for  the 
currency  held  by  them,  in  exchange  for  their  gold  and  silver. 

One  Mr.  Tennant,  a  gentleman  residing  in  Lancashire, 
Enghmd,  embraced  Mormonism.  His  property  was  estimated 
at  over  $70,000.  He  was  soon  marked  as  a  victim.  By 
appliances  and  representations  brought  to  bear  with  much 
assiduity,  he  .was  induced  to  purchase  of  Brigham  Young  a 
house  in  Salt  Lake,  which  he  had  never  seen,  and  pay  for 
the  same  the  sum  of  $20,000 ;  about  four  times  its  value.  In 
addition  to  this,  large  sums  of  money  were  obtained  from 
him  by  the  Elders,  under  pretence  of  his  becoming  a  share- 
11 


1G2    BRIG  HAM  AS  TRUSTEE  IN  TRUST  FOR  THE  CHURCH. 

holder  and  partner  Avith  Young  in  grist-mill?,  sugnr  machin- 
ery, iron-works,  &c.,  t^olemnly  assuring  him  in  relation  to  its 
safe  investment  and  future  profits.  Mr.  Tennant  died  while 
crossing  the  Plains,  leaving  a  wife,  with  a  young  child.  Oq 
arriving  in  Salt  Lake,  Mrs.  Tennant,  instead  of  being  com- 
fortably installed  in  the  house  purchased  by  her  husband, 
found  herself  placed  in  lodgings,  the  carriage,  horses,  and 
other  property  seized  upon,  and  herself  placed  under  the  con- 
trol of  a  guardian.  This,  together  with  the  loss  of  her  hus- 
band, so  worked  upon  her  mind,  that  she  became  insane. 
Afterward  Brigham  gave  her  in  marriage  to  Daniel  Spencer, 
as  his  fourth  or  fifth  wife,  and  thus  completed  the  wrongs  for 
which  the  poor  woman  will  call  him  to  account  in  the  day  of 
judgment.  She  now  lives  upon  a  miserable  pittance  doled 
out  from  the  tithing-office. 

A  Mr.  Williams,  well  known  to  the  writer,  became  a 
Mormon  in  England.  He  was  a  man  of  considerable  prop- 
erty, and  while  on  his  way  crossing  the  Plains,  was  induced 
to  invest  $15,000  in  an  iron  company  formed  for  working  the 
iron  mines  in  Southern  Utah.  The  money  was  paid  over,  and 
invested  by  the  Elders,  in  goods,  in  St.  Louis.  The  goods 
were  duly  transported  across  the  Plains,  and  unloaded  within 
the  enclosure  of  Young,  in  Salt  Lake  City.  Mr.  Williams 
received,  in  St.  Louis,  a  receipt  for  his  money,  stating  that 
the  same  would  entitle  him,  upon  his  arrival  in  Utah,  to  cer- 
tificates of  stock  in  the  company.  But  he  never  was  able  to 
get  any  stock  or  other  equivalent  for  his  money,  nor  any  state- 
ment of  the  affairs  of  the  company.  Lideed,  the  dignitaries 
of  the  church,  after  one  or  two  conversations  upon  the  sub- 
ject, refused  to  converse  with  him  further  in  relation  to  it. 
Soon  after,  the  Legislature  of  Utah,  composed  in  good  part 
of  the  same  men,  repealed  the  Act  incorporating  the  company, 
and  thus  the  whole  thing  "vanished  into  thin  air."  In  1862, 
which  was  several  years  after  the  money  had  been  paid,  Mr. 
Williams  took  legal  advice,  and  was  told  he  could  file  a  bill 
in  chancery,  against  all  persons  implicated  in  the  transaction, 


BRIGHAM  AS   TRUSTEE  IX  TRUST  FOR  THE   CHURCH.    163 

requiring  them  to  answer  under  oath.  He  hesitated  to  do  so, 
giving  as  a  reason  that  he  thought  "  the  time  had  not  yet 
come,"  and  that  such  a  course  would  imperil  his  life. 

This  mode  of  getting  money  by  the  Eldei-s  from  the 
wealthy  saints,  and  the  retaining  the  same,  is  not  only  ex- 
cused, but  openly  justified  and  encouraged  by  Brigham.  The 
following  extract  from  one  of  his  published  sermons  will 
show  his  views  upon  these  questions,  and  the  character  of 
his  morality  and  financial  integrity :  — 

"  I  wish  to  impress  another  thing  on  your  minds.  An  Elder  who 
is  willing  to  preach  the  gospel,  borrows  a  hundred  or  a  thousand 
from  you,  and  you  never  breathe  a  word  of  complaint  against  him, 
until  you  come  home  to  this  valley  ;  but  after  you  have  been  here 
for  a  few  days,  you  follow  me  round  and  fill  my  ears  with  com- 
plaints against  this  brother,  and  ask  me  what  he  has  done  with 
your  money  ?  I  say  '  I  do  not  know.'  Thus  you  are  distressed,  and 
m  misery  all  the  day  long,  to  get  it  back  again.  If  an  Elder  has 
borrowed  from  you,  and  you  find  he  is  going  to  apostatize,  then 
you  may  tighten  the  screws  upon  him  ;  but  if  he  is  willing  to 
preach  the  gospel  without  purse  or  scrip,  it  is  none  of  your  business 
what  he  does  with  the  money  he  has  borrowed  from  you.  If  you 
murmur  against  that  Elder^  it  will  prove  your  damnation.     .     .     . 

"  No  man  need  judge  me.  You  know  nothing  about  it,  whether 
I  am  sent  or  not ;  furthermore,  it  is  none  of  your  business,  only  to 
listen  with  open  ears  to  what  is  taught  you,  and  serve  God  with  an 
undivided  heart."  * 

Stephen  Goddard  owned  a  store  on  Main  Street,  Salt  Lake 
City,  which  he  desired  to  sell.  He  was  offered  its  value  by 
a  gentile,  but  before  selling,  consulted  "  Brother  Brigham." 
The  President  said  he  wanted  the  store,  and  would  give  him 
$8,000  for  it.  To  this  Goddard  demurred,  as  the  sum  was 
less  than  half  what  he  had  been  offered.  Young  said  when 
the  Lord  wanted  his  property,  that  should  be  the  end  of  it, 
and  the  price  was  none  of  his  business.  Goddard  and  Bishop 
Woolley,  who  was  present,  retired  outside  and  talked  the 
matter  over.  The  Bishop  remarked,  "  He  thought  when  a 
*  Jour.  ofDis.,  Vol.  I.  p.  340. 


164    BRIGHAM  AS  TRUSTEE  IX  TRUST  FOR   THE  CHURCH. 

man  had  worked  liard  to  accumulate  property  for  the  benefit 
of  his  family,  he  should  be  permitted  to  sell  it  for  a  fair 
price."  This  was  overheard  by  a  spy,  and  reported  to  head- 
quarters. The  Bishop  was  sent  for  and  sharply  reprimanded. 
He  was  told  that  he  was  in  a  spirit  of  apostasy.  Goddard, 
afraid  to  do  otherwise,  sold  the  store  to  Young  for  $8,000. 

Besides  the  property  acquired  through  the  machinery  of 
the  tithing  system,  a  large  amount  is  obtained  under  the 
'•  law  of  consecration."  Under  this  law,  those  saints  who 
can  be  induced  to  do  so,  place  their  whole  property  in  the 
hands  of  the  President,  as  trustee  in  trust  for  the  church,  to 
be  used  when  the  necessities  of  the  church  require  it.  The 
object  is  to  guard  against  apostasy.    Brigham  Young  says  :  — 

*'  The  rulers  of  Great  Britain  have  tried  to  make  every  capital- 
ist identify  his  interest  with  the  Government  that  has  sustained 
the  kingdom.  Brethren,  do  you  wish  this  heavenly  kingdom  to, 
stand  ?  .  .  .  Imitate  the  policy  of  that  earthly  kingdom  ;  iden- 
tify our  interest  with  the  kingdom  of  God,  so  that  if  our  hearts 
should  ever  be  weaned  from  loyalty  to  the  sovereign,  all  our 
earthly  interest  is  bound  up  there,  and  cannot  be  taken  away.  .  .  . 

"  If  a  man  has  the  purse  in  bis  pocket,  and  he  apostatizes,  he 
takes  it  with  him ;  but  if  his  worldly  interest  is  firmly  united  to 
the  kingdom  of  God,  when  he  arises  to  go  away,  he  finds  the  calf 
is  bound,  and,  like  the  cow,  he  is  unwilling  to  forsake  it.  If  his 
calf  is  bound  up  here,  he  Avill  be  inclined  to  stay."  * 

The  Emigratiox  Fund. 

The  published  object  and  design  of  this  fund  is  to  emigrate 
the  poor  saints  from  Europe  and  other  foreign  countries  to 
Utah,  the  Zion  of  the  church.  In  those  foreign  countries 
there  is  a  continual  weekly  subscription  paid  in  ibr  that  pur- 
pose. 

Every  emigration  season,  each  Conference  is  permitted  to 

send  persons  at  the  rate  of  one  for  every  £10  sterling  so 

subscribed.     Each  one  so  emigrating,  is  required  to  enter 

into  obligations,  before  leaving  Liverpool,  for  the  repayment 

*  Jour.  ofDis.  Tol.  I.  p.  202. 


BEIGHAM  AS   TRUSTEE  IX  TRUST  FOR  THE  CHURCH.   165 

of  the  same,  as  soon  as  possible  after  his  arrival  in  Salt  Lake 
City.  Partiies  in  Utah,  also,  wishing  their  relations  brought 
over,  must  pay  the  required  amount,  before  they  are  sent 
for,  unless  in  some  special  cases,  where  notes  are  accepted 
in  payment.  The  sum  of  £4  10s.  is  required  to  pay  the 
transportation  of  each  person  to  the  first  American  port,  and 
the  remaining  £5  10s.  thence  to  Salt  Lake  City.  The  emi- 
grants are  stowed  away  like  cattle,  on  the  freight  cars  and 
on  the  decks  of  the  boats  and  vessels,  and  thus  by  having 
them  conveyed  in  the  cheapest  manner  possible,  considerable 
of  the  amount  paid  for  transportation  is  saved,  making  a 
large  sum  in  the  aggregate,  all  of  which  goes  into  that  "  treas- 
ury of  the  church,"  —  the  pocket  of  Brigham  Young. 

Again:  as  all  are  obliged  to  pay  their  passage-money, 
either  in  advance  or  after  their  arrival  in  Utah,  and  as  a 
large  portion  of  the  sum  is  previously  raised  by  contribution, 
of  course  the  amount,  in  thousands  of  cases,  is  duplicated, 
and  paid  twice  into  the  same  treasury. 

Tlie  transportation  across  the  Plains  costs  the  church 
notliing  at  all,  except  a  slight  diminution  of  the  tithing-fund 
prospective.  The  teams  are  furnished,  so  many  from  each 
ward  and  settlement,  and  the  owners  are  given  credit  for  the 
use  of  the  same  in  tithing  account.  Large  quantities  of  pro- 
visions are  furnished  and  sent  out  to  meet  the  incoming 
saints,  but  these,  although  donated  and  sent  by  their  friends, 
are  all  charged  to  them  by  the  careful  priests  and  elders. 

Before  starting  across  the  Plains,  meetings  are  held,  and 
the  saints  are  counselled  to  give  up  all  their  money  and  valu- 
ables, so  that  they  may  be  preserved  on  their  journey.  One 
man,  in  obedience  to  this  "  counsel,"  gave  up  his  money,  to- 
gether with  a  valuable  gold  watch  and  chain.  Afterwards, 
remembering  that  he  had  not  provided  any  tobacco  for  the 
journe}',  he  asked  for  a  dollar  back,  to  purchase  some,  which 
was  refused  him. 

Much  cruelty  is  exercised  on  the  Plains  for  the  slightest 
disobedience.     A  young  man,  brother  of  Walter  Sanders,  of 


166    BRIGHAM  AS   fRUSTEE  IX   TRUST   FOR  THE  CHURCH. 

Salt  Lake,  was  M'liipped  nearly  to  death  for  being  unable  to 
travel  as  required. 

Several  years  since,  Brigham,  with  the  view  of  saving  still 
more  from  the  emigration  fund,  projected  the  plan  of  bring- 
ing the  saints  across  the  Plains  in  hand-cart  companies. 
Under  this  arrangement,  every  person,  male  and  female,  was 
expected  to  assist  in  drawing  a  hand-cart ;  each  cart  being 
drawn  by  three  persons,  and  containing  a  certain  quantity  of 
provisions,  clothing,  &c. 

One  of  the  companies,  under  the  lead  of  Franklin  D. 
Richards,  was  detained  on  the  frontiers  until  common  pru- 
dence should  have  dictated  their  remaining  until  another 
year.  In  consequence  of  the  lateness  of  the  season,  befoi-e 
the  journey  was  half  performed,  winter  was  upon  them,  and 
their  sufferings  beggar  all  description. 

Mrs.  Chapman,  a  very  intelligent  English  lady,  who 
crossed  the  Plains  in  this  company,  related  to  me  many  inci- 
dents of  this  dreadful  journey. 

They  started  from  the  frontier  very  late,  sometime  in  Oc- 
tober, I  think  ;  and  to  allay  the  fears  and  forebodings  of  the 
saints,  Richards  prophesied,  in  the  name  of  Israel's  God,  that 
the  elements  should  be  controlled  ;  and  that  the  winds  and 
snows  of  w^inter  should  be  stayed  until  the  faithful  arrived  in 
Zion.  Entirely  unacquainted  with  the  country  and  the  route 
before  them,  they  were  reassured,  and  went  boldly  forward, 
trusting  in  their  leader. 

In  order  to  lighten  their  loads  and  facilitate  their  prog- 
ress, every  article  of  clothing  that  they  could  possibly  spare, 
was  left  behind  ;  barely  sufficient  being  taken  to  prevent 
them  from  freezing. 

It  may  be  supposed  that  only  the  very  poor  were  subjected 
to  this  terrible  ordeal.  Not  so.  Many  families  of  means 
made  the  journey  in  this  way,  being  assured  that  this  saci-i- 
fice  would  add  to  their  exaltation  in  the  eternal  world. 
They  had  not  proceeded  far  when  the  snow  began  to  fall, 
and  many  became  sick  from  want  and  exposure.     When  a 


BKIGHAM  AS   TKDSTEE  IX  TRUST  FOR  THE  CHURCH.   167 

river  Avas  to  be  crossed,  they  Avere  driven  into  tlie  water,  — 
men,  women,  and  children,  —  and  were  told,  if  they  had  suf- 
ficient faith,  they  should,  like  the  Israelites  of  old,  go  over 
dry  shod.  Many  of  the  men  carried  their  wives  and  children 
over  the  streams,  as  long  as  they  were  able.  If  ;my  were 
unable  longer  to  drag  their  carts,  they  were  obliged  to  lighten 
them  by  throwing  away  clothing,  cooking  utensils,  and  even 
provisions,  —  thus  necessitating  a  reduction  from  their  daily 
allowance  of  food.  Fuel  was  scarce,  and  it  was  often  neces- 
sary to  go  into  the  snow,  wai^t-deep,  to  procure  it.  Mrs. 
Chapman's  husband,  a  strong,  athletic  man,  formerly  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Queen's  Guards,  from  constant  exertion  and  ex- 
posure, at  length  fell  sick,  and  though  there  were  a  few  wag- 
ons for  the  sick  and  feeble  to  ride  in,  they  were  not  admitted 
into  them  so  long  as  they  were  able  to  walk. 

The  poor  man  continued  to  grow  worse,  and  it  soon  became 
evident  that  he  must  die.  One  morning,  when  the  train  was 
ready  to  start,  the  Captain  came  to  the  tent  of  the  sick  man, 
and  finding  him  dying,  said  to  Mrs.  Chapman,  "  Your  hus- 
band must  die ;  leave  him  in  the  hands  of  God,  and  proceed 
on  your  journey."  "  What !  "  said  the  heart-stricken  woman, 
"  leave  my  husband  on  this  barren  waste,  a  prey  to  wolves  ? 
No  ;  while  there  is  breath  in  his  body,  I  shall  remain  by  his 
side,  and  share  his  fate.  Leave  us  if  you  will,  for  the  wild 
beasts  of  the  desert  cannot  be  more  cruel  than  you  have 
been."  In  five  minutes  more,  he  breathed  his  last ;  and 
throwing  him  into  a  hole  dug  in  the  sand,  they  dragged  the 
weeping  wife  and  children  from  all  they  held  dear  on  earth. 
In  a  few  days  the  same  woman  left  her  baby,  too,  on  the 
sands  of  the  desert,  a  prey  to  wolves.  She  says,  "  I  never 
see  Franklin  D.  Richards,  but  I  feel  hand-carts  from  the 
crown  of  my  head  to  the  sole  of  my  feet " 

One  day,  as  they  approached  their  Mecca,  an  old  white- 
haired  saint  said  to  the  Captain,  in  a  weak  voice,  —  "  Captain, 
I  feel  as  if  I  should  die,  drawing  in  this  hand-cart ;  can't  I 
ride  a  little  while  ?  "  —  "  Draw  till  you  die  then,"  replied  the 


1G8  BRIGHAM  AS  TRUSTEE  IN  TRUST  FOR  THE  CHURCH. 

hard-hearted  wretch,  "  for  I  '11  be  d d  if  you  can  ride," 

"  Oh,  well,"  said  the  old  man,  "  I  suppose  I  shall  draw  till  I 
die."  He  took  out  his  watch.  "  A  quarter  of  four.  It  will 
soon  be  over.  Ten  minutes.  Oh  dear  ;  oh,  my  God  !  Five 
minutes  to  four,  —  four ;  "  —  and  the  old  man  fell  down  in  his 
place,  —  he  was  dead. 

Every  day  witnessed  the  death  of  large  numbers  by  cold 
and  starvation.  Those  who  survived  were  more  like  walk- 
ing skeletons  than  human  beings.  They  were  covered  with 
vermin,  and  loathsome  to  behold.  Some  were  so  badly  frozen 
that  their  flesh  fell  from  their  bones.  Many  remained  dis- 
abled for  life. 

"Oh  Religion  !  what  crimes  are  perpetrated  in  thy  name  !  " 
When  Mormons  speak  of  the  hand-cart  company,  they  shud- 
der and  grow  pale.  All  this  suffering  was  the  result  of  an 
attempt,  on  the  part  of  the  leaders  of  the  church,  to  save  a 
still  larger  sum  from  the  emigration  fund.  It  was  a  specula- 
tive experiment,  which  was  never  repeated.  These  people 
bought  their  carts  with  their  own  money ;  but  on  their  ar- 
rival in  Salt  Lake,  the  carts  were  claimed  by  Brigham,  in 
behalf  of  the  church,  and  were  afterwards  sold  from  the 
tithing-ofiice  at  five  dollars  each. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

BfilGHAM  AS  PROPHET,  SEER,  AND   REVELATOE. 

Brigham's  jfcsition  as  Head  of  the  Church.  —  Mormon  Theology.  —  Brig- 
ham's  Theology,  or  Utah  Mormonism. — Adam  as  God.  —  Brigham 
Young  as  God.  —  Human  Sacrifice.  —  Introduction  of  Pol_vgamy.  —  Po- 
Ij-gamy  no  part  of  the  original  Mormon  Religion.  —  The  Revelation, 
or  Celestial  Man-iage.  —  The  Ceremony  of  Sealing.  —  Consequences 
and  Incidents  of  the  Doctrine.  —  Incest.  —  Summary  of  the  Mormon 
Religion. 

Not  only  is  Brigham  Young  the  temporal  head  of  the 
church,  its  chief  business  agent,  and  the  sole  custodian  of  its 
funds,  but  he  is  the  spiritual  head,  the  established  fountain, 
in  whom  is  gathered  from  ou  high  all  spiritual  blessings, 
and  from  whom  they  are  expected  to  flow  through  the 
various  officers  of  the  priesthood,  and  thus  be  distributed  to 
the  faithful  among  the  masses.  Standing  in  this  capacity 
between  the  people  and  the  Supreme  Being,  he  is  at  once 
Prophet,  Seer,  and  Revelator.  As  Prophet  and  Seer,  he 
pees  and  foretells  to  the  people  what  is  to  befall  them,  as 
the  result  of  certain  courses  of  action.  As  Eevelator,  he 
reveals  and  translates,  to  the  comprehension  of  the  people, 
the  hidden  will  of  God  concerning  them. 

An  acknowledgment  of  this  relationship  of  Brigham  with 
the  Divine  Being  is  made  a  test  of  fellowship  ;  as  in  the 
case  of  the  Morrisltes,  who,  although  they  admitted  bis  right 
to  preside  over  the  church  as  its  temporal  head,  denied  him 
the  attributes  of  prophet  and  revelator.  Hence  they  were 
cut  oflT  from  the  church. 

Acting  in  this  capacity,  he  not  only  prescribes  a  course  of 
conduct  for  his  followers,  but  promulgates,  from  time  to  time, 


170      BRIGIIAM  AS   PROPHET,  SEER,  AND  REVELATOR. 

doctrines,  to  be  received,  believed,  and  advocated.  Thus  the 
theology  or  creed  of  the  church  changes,  from  time  to  time, 
to  suit  the  changing  opinions,  the  whims  and  caprices,  or  the 
passions  and  lusts,  of  its  head  and  leader.  What  is  here 
said,  therefore,  of  the  Mormon  religion,  must  be  understood 
in  reference  to  the  received  doctrines  and  tenets  of  the 
cliurch  in  former  years,  —  many  of  wliich  still  remain,  but 
incorporated  with  new  dogmas,  and  any  part  or  all  of  which 
are  liable  at  any  time  to  be  changed,  modified,  or  entirely 
overthrown.  « 

Mormon  Theology. 

There  are  many  Gods,  and  they  are  of  both  sexes.  But 
to  us  there  is  but  one  God,  —  the  Father  of  mankind,  and 
the  Creator  of  the  earth. 

Men  and  women  are  literally  the  sons  and  daughters  of 
God,  —  our  spirits  having  been  litei-ally  begotten  by  God,  in 
the  heavenly  world,  and  having  been  afterwards  sent  to  the 
earth,  and  invested  with  these  tabernacles. 

God  is  in  the  form  of  man.  He  has  a  body,  composed  of 
spiritual  matter.  There  is  no  difference  between  matter  and 
spirit,  except  in  quality.     Spirit  is  matter  refined. 

God  is  omnipotent,  but  not  personally  omnipresent.  He  is 
everywhere  present  by  his  Holy  Spirit.  His  personality  is 
generally  expressed  by  the  phrase,  "  He  has  body,  parts,  and 
passions."  He  resides  in  the  centre  of  the  universe,  near 
the  phmet  Kolob.  This  planet  revolves  on  its  axis  once  in 
a  thousand  of  our  years,  and  one  revolution  of  Kolob  is  a 
day  to  the  Almighty. 

Jesus  Christ  was  the  Son  of  God,  literally  begotten  by  the 
Father,  and  had  the  Spirit  of  God  in  the  body  of  a  man. 
After  his  resurrection,  he  had  a  body  of  flesh  and  bones  only, 
typical  of  man's  resurrected  body.  He  differs  in  nothing 
from  the  Father,  except  in  age  and  authority,  —  the  Father 
having  the  seniority,  and  consequently  the  right  to  preside. 

The  Holy  Spirit  is  a  subtle  fluid,  like  electricity.     It  is 


BEIGHAM  AS  PROPHET,  SEER,  AND  EEVELATOR.  171 

the  subtlest  foiiu  of  matter,  and  pervades  all  space.  By  its 
agency  all  miracles,  so  called,  are  performed.  Miracles  are 
simply  the  effects  of  the  operation  of  natural  laws.  But 
they  are  laws  of  a  higher  character  than  those  with  which 
we  are  acquainted.  This  Holy  Spirit  is  communicated  by 
the  laying-on  of  hands  by  one  of  the  properly  authoi'ized 
priesthood,  and  the  recipient  is  then  enabled  to  perform 
wonderful  things,  according  to  his  gift,  —  some  having  the 
gift  of  prophecy,  some  of  healing,  some  of  speaking  in  un- 
known tongues,  etc. 

There  are  three  heavens,  —  the  telestial,  the  terrestrial, 
and  the  celestial. 

The  telestial  and  terrestrial  heavens  are  to  be  occupied  by 
the  various  classes  of  persons  who  have  neither  obeyed  nor 
rejected  the  gospel.  The  telestial  is  typified  by  the  stars,  — 
the  terrestrial,  by  the  moon. 

The  celestial,  or  highest  heaven,  has  for  its  type  the  sun, 
and  is  reserved  for  those  who  received  the  testimony  of 
Jesus,  and  believed  on  His  name,  and  were  baptized  by  one 
having  authority  from  Him,  and  who  afterwards  lived  a  holy 
life. 

The  earth,  as  purified  and  refined,  after  the  second  coming 
of  Christ,  is  to  be  the  final  habitation  of  those  entitled  to  the 
glories  of  the  celestial  kingdom.  Jerusalem  is  to  be  rebuilt, 
and  Zion,  or  the  New  Jerusalem,  is  to  be  built  in  Jackson 
County,  Missouri,  whence  the  saints  were  expelled  in  1833. 

There  is  a  fourth  class  of  persons,  not  entitled  to  either  of 
these  heavens.  They  are  those  who  sin  against  the  Holy 
Ghost ;  that  is,  those  who  apostatize  after  receiving  the 
Holy  Spirit.  These  go  into  everlasting  punishment,  to  re- 
main with  the  devil  and  his  angels. 

The  gospel,  which  people  are  called  upon  to  obey,  in 
order  to  gain  a  place  in  the  celestial  kingdom,  is,  —  First, 
They  must  believe  in  Jesus  Chi'ist  as  the  Son  of  God,  and 
in  His  authorized  priesthood.  Secondly,  They  must  repent 
of  their  sins ;    Thirdy,  They  must  be  baptized  by  immersion 


172     BRIGHAM  AS   PROPUET,  SEER,  AND   REYELATOR. 

for  the  remission  of  their  sins;  and,  Fourthly,  They  must  re- 
ceive the  laying-on  of  hands  for  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

God,  having  become  nearly  lost  to  man,  revived  His  vv'ork, 
by  revealing  himself  to  Joseph  Smith,  and  conferring  upon 
him  the  keys  of  the  everlasting  Priesthood,  —  thus  making 
him  the  mediator  of  a  New  Dispensation,  which  is  immedi- 
ately to  precede  the  second  coming  of  Christ.  All  those  who 
recognize  the  divine  authority  of  Smith,  and  are  baptized  by 
one  having  authority,  are  the  chosen  peoi)le  of  God,  who  are 
to  introduce  the  Millennium,  and  to  reign  with  Christ,  on 
earth,  a  thousand  years. 

Previous  to  the  year  1852,  it  was  also  an  orthodox  prin- 
ciple of  the  Mormon  religion,  that  a  man  should  have  but 
one  wife,  to  whom  he  should  be  true  and  faithful. 

Those  who  have  any  curiosity  to  pursue  the  subject  fur- 
ther, will  find  these  views  and  doctrines  fully  explained  and 
illustrated  in  the  religious  writings  of  the  Mormons,  —  of 
which  the  following  are  some  of  the  principal :  Book  of 
Mormon  ;  Book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants  ;  Works  of  Or- 
son Pratt;  Key  to  Theology,  by  P.  P.  Pratt;  The  Only 
Way  to  be  Saved,  etc.,  by  L.  Snow ;  Pearl  of  Great  Price ; 
Voice  of  Warning,  by  P.  P.  Pratt ;  Catechism  for  Children, 
by  John  Jaques  ;  Deseret  News,  14  vols. ;  Journal  of  Dis- 
courses, 6  vols. ;  Latter-Day  Saints'  Millennial  Star,  London, 
26  volumes. 

BrighanCs  Theology  ;k  or  Utah  Mormonism. 

The  doctrines  taught  and  practised  by  the  present  head  of 
the  Mormon  Church  differ  so  much  from  the  previously  es- 
tablished tenets  of  the  church,  that  they  require  a  separate 
consideration. 

One  of  the  most  important  innovations  upon  the  estab- 
lished doctrines  of  the  church,  is  in  relation  to  the  Godhead. 
In  April,  1852,  Brigliam  put  forth  the  startling  doctrine  that 
Adam  is  God,  and  to  be  recognized  and  honored  as  such  ! 
This  announcement  created  some  consternation  among  the 


BPJGHAM  AS  PIIOPIIET,  SEER,  AND   REVELATOR.     173 

Mormon  theologians,  and  some  of  them  had  the  courage  to 
oppose  it.  Tlie  following  is  the  "  Jlevelator's "  own  expo- 
sition of  this  doctrine:  — 

"  When  the  Virgin  Mary  conceived  the  child  Jesus,  the  Father 
had  begotten  him  in  his  own  likeness.  He  was  not  begotten  by 
the  Holy  Ghost.  And  who  is  the  Father  ?  He  is  the  first  of  the 
human  famihj ;  and  when  he  took  a  tabernacle,  it  was  begotten 
by  his  Father  in  heaven,  after  the  same  manner  as  the  tabernacle 
of  Cain,  Abel,  and  the  rest  of  the  sons  and  daughters  of  Adam  and 
Eve.  ...  It  is  true  that  the  earth  was  organized  by  three 
distinct  characters,  namely :  Elohim,  Yahovah,  and  Michael, 
[Adam ;]  these  three  forming  a  quorum,  as  in  all  heavenly  bodies, 
and  in  organized  element  perfectly  represented  in  the  Deity,  as 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost. 

"  When  our  Father  Adam  came  into  the  garden  of  Eden,  he 
came  with  a  celestial  body,  and  brought  Eve,  one  of  his  toives,  with 
him.  He  helped  to  make  and  organize  this  world.  He  is  Michael, 
the  Archangel,  the  Ancient  of  Days.  He  is  our  Father  and  our 
God,  and  the  only  God  with  jvhom  ive  have  to  do.  .  .  .  Jesus, 
our  elder  brother,  was  begotten  in  the  flesh  by  the  same  charac- 
ter that  was  in  the  garden  of  Eden,  and' who  is  our  Father  in 
heaven."  * 

It  is  manifest  that  Young  is  not  so  much  at  home  in  theol- 
ogy as  when  engaged  in  financial  schemes  and  money  spec- 
ulations. So  disgusting  and  blasphemous  are  these  ideas, 
and  so  unacceptable  were  they,  even  to  Mormons,  who  were 
not  prepared  to  see  the  basis  of  their  religion  thus  rudely 
overthrown,  that  Brigham  finally  felt  compelled  to  caution 
the  Elders  not  to  preach  the  new  doctrines  concerning  Deity, 
until  the  people  should  be  better  prepared  to  receive  them. 

Mahomet  is  the  great  exemplar  and  prototype  whom 
Brigham  Young  aims  to  imitate,  and  doubtless  he  took  from 
the  Koran  his  ideas  about  the  deity  of  Adam.  Thus  in 
chapter  two  of  the  Koran,  we  have  the  following  :  — 

"  And  when  we  said  unto  the  angels,  '  worship  Adam,'  they  all 
worshipped  him,  except  Eblis,  [Lucifer,]  who  refused." 

From  the  following  afiidavit  of  John  Stiles,  father  of  Judge 
*  Jour,  of  Dis.  Vol.  I.  p.  50. 


17-4     BRIGHAM  AS  PROPHET,  SEER,  AXD  REVELATOR. 

Stiles,  formei-'.y  one  of  the  United  States  Judges  in  Utah,  a 
man  of  much  probity  of  character,  and  well  known  in  Salt 
Lake  City  as  "  Father  Stiles,"  it  ajipears  that  the  blasphe- 
mous pretensions  of  Brigham  Young  do  not  stop  with  Adam, 
but  that,  among  the  brethren,  he  has  encouraged  a  doctrine, 
wliich  he  dare  not  put  in  print ;  —  no  less  than  to  arrogate  to 
himself  the  attributes  of  Deitij. 

"  Territory  of  Utah,      ) 

\  ss. 
Great  Salt  Lake  City.  ) 

"In  the  spring  of  1856,"  John  Stiles  says,  "  I  resided  in  the  11th 
Ward  of  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  in  the  Territory  of  Utah.  I  was 
appointed  by  the  quorum  to  which  I  tlien  belonged,  as  a  Mission- 
ary High-Priest  for  the  said  Ward.  My  duty  was  to  look  after 
the  morals  of  the  people  of  the  Ward,  and  especially  to  see  that 
there  was  no  false  doctrine  taught  there.  I  subsequently  found 
that  there  were  not  only  immoralities,  but  also  false  doctrines 
among  some  of  the  people,  as  I  supposed  at  the  time.  IMany  peo- 
ple believed  and  taught  the  doctrine,  that  Brigham  Young  was 
all  the  God  that  we  were  amenable  to.  I  found  by  opposing  that 
doctrine,  that  I  gave  offence  to  the  authorities  of  the  Ward,  and 
was  consequently  called  to  answer  for  my  opposition  before  the 
Bishop  of  tlie  Ward,  although  he  had  no  jurisdiction  over  me.  As 
a  High-Priest  I  was  amenable  to  a  higher  authority,  but  not  to 
him. 

"  In  a  public  assembly  he  wished  me  to  state  my  views  on  the 
question,  whether  if  Brigham  Young  was  not  God,  who  teas?  I 
told  him  I  would  do  so.  I  rose  and  stated  that  my  idea  of  the 
being  of  God  was  expressed  in  a  passage  of  Scripture,  and  I  need 
only  repeat  the  passage  to  explain  the  idea.  The  passage  was  : 
To  us  there  is  but  one  God,  the  Father,  of  whom  are  all  things, 
and  we  in  Him,  and  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  are  all  things, 
and  we  by  Him.'  I  subsequently,  in  explanation,  cited  this  pas- 
sage of  Scripture  :  '  This  is  life  eternal,  that  we  might  know  thee, 
the  only  living  and  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ  whom  thou  hast 
sent.'  I  then  sat  down,  and  the  Bishop  rose  and  said  :  '  Brethren, 
we  perceive  that  Father  Stiles  runs  round  Brigham.'  I  replied, 
'  Yes ;  I  do  not  mention  Brigham  Young  on  the  same  day  with 
God,  as  of  the  same  Godhead.'  His  (the  Bishop's)  First  Counsellor, 
then  moved  that  Father  Stiles  be  cut  off  from  the  church.     This 


BRIGHAM  AS   PROPHET,  SEER,  AND  REVELATOR.      175 

was  seconded  by  the  Second  Counselloi*.  This  was  proposed  to 
the  assembly  as  a  question  by  the  Bishop,  and  I  was  cut  off  ac- 
cordingly. I  subsequently  discovered  that  by  my  opposition  and 
explanation,  I  gave  offence  to  the  authorities  of  the  Mormon 
Church,  and  was  cut  off  from  the  church  and  dismissed  from  the 
place  of  Missionary  High-Priest  of  that  Ward.  I  have  never  been 
restored  as  IMissionary  High-Priest. 

(Signed,)        John  Stiles. 
"  Sworn  to  and  subscribed  before  me  at  Great  Salt  Lake  City, 
this  April  26th,  1864. 

"John  Titus, 

"  Ch.  Justice  of  Utah." 

Another  doctrine  of  a  startling  character,  promulgated  by 
one  of  Young's  counsellors  and  endorsed  by  him,  is  that  of 
human  sacrifice  for  the  remission  of  sins. 

It  was  first  announced  by  Jedediah  M.  Grant,  Second 
Counsellor  to  the  President,  in  the  following  language  :  — 

"  Brethren  and  sisters,  we  want  you  to  repent  and  forsake  your 
sins.  And  you  who  have  committed  sins  that  cannot  be  forgiven 
through  baptism,  let  your  blood  be  shed,  and  let  the  smoke  ascend, 
that  the  Incense  thereof  may  come  up  before  God  as  an  atonement 
for  your^ins,  and  that  the  sinners  in  Zion  may  be  afraid."  * 

Again :  — 

"  We  have  been  trying  long  enough  with  this  people,  and  I  go 
in  for  letting  the  sword  of  the  Almighty  be  unsheathed,  not  only 
in  K'ord,  but  in  deed."  f 

In  accordance  with  such  bloody  teaching,  it  is  said  that  an 
altar  of  sacrifice  was  actually  built  by  Grant,  in  the  temple 
block,_upon  which  these  human  sacrifices  were  to  be  made. 
On  the  21st  of  September,  1856,  Grant  said:  — 

"  I  say  there  are  men  and  women  here  that  I  would  advise  to 
go  to  the  President  immediately,  and  ask  him  to  appoint  a  com- 
mittee to  attend  to  their  case ;  and  then  let  a  place  be  selected, 
and  let  that  committee  shed  their  blood."  J 

*  Deseret  Neics,  October  1, 1856.  t  ^l>^<^- 

t  Ibid.  Vol.  VI.  p.  235. 


176      BRIGHAM  AS   PROPHET,  SEER,  AND  REVELATOR. 

This  horrible  proposal  to  immolate  upon  the  altar  of  sacri- 
fice the  erring  saints,  was  fully  endorsed  by  Brigham  Yoinig 
as  follows :  — 

"  There  are  sins  that  men  commit  for  which  they  cannot  receive 
forgiveness  in  this  world,  or  in  that  which  is  to  come ;  and  if  they 
had  their  eyes  open  to  see  their  condition,  they  would  he  perfectly 
willing  to  have  their  blood  spilt  upon  the  ground,  that  the  smoke 
thereof  might  ascend  to  Heaven  as  an  offering  for  their  sins,  and 
the  smoking  incense  would  atone  for  their  sins ;  whereas,  if  such 
is  not  the  case,  they  will  stick  to  them,  and  remain  upon  them  in 
the  spirit-world. 

"  I  know,  when  you  hear  my  brethren  telling  about  cutting  peo- 
ple off  from  the  earth,  that  you  consider  it  is  strong  doctrine,  ft 
is  to  save  them,  not  to  destroy  them.  I  will  say  further,  I  have 
had  men  come  to  me,  and  ofler  their  hves  to  atone  for  their  sins. 
It  is  true  that  tlie  blood  of  the  Son  of  God  was  shed  for  sins, 
through  the  fall,  and  those  committed  by  man,  yet  men  can  com- 
mit sins  which  it  can  never  remit.  As  it  was  in  ancient  days,  so 
it  is  in  our  day ;  and  though  the  principles  are  taught  publicly 
from  this  stand,  still  the  people  do  not  understand  them  ;  yet  the 
Law  is  precisely  the  same.  There  are  sins  that  can  be  atoned  for 
by  an  offering  upon  the  altar,  as  in  ancient  days,  and  there  are  sins 
that  the  blood  of  a  lamb,  of  a  calf,  or  of  turtle-doves  canilfct  remit, 
hut  they  must  he  atoned  for  by  the  hlood  of  the  man.  That  is  the 
reason  why  men  talk  to  you  as  they  do  from  this  stand.  They 
understand  the  doctrine,  and  throw  out  a  few  words  about  it."* 

But  the  greatest  change  of  all  in  the  Mormon  religion, 
made  by  Brigham  Young,  was  the  introduction  and  estab- 
lishment of  polygamy. 

This  was  no  part  of  the  Mormon  system  of  religion  as 
originally  established.  On  the  contrary,  it  was  expressly 
repudiated  by  all  the  Mormon  writers  and  speakers,  previous 
to  1852,  and  in  Europe  for  some  years  afterward. 

The  Mormon  religion  was  founded  by  Joseph  Smith  and 
his  coadjutors,  and  the  principles  and  doctrines  of  the  religion 

*  Sermon  by  Brigham  Young,  published  in  the  Deseret  Xew$,  October 
iBt,  1856. 


BRIGHAM  AS   PROPHET,  SEER,  AND   REVEL ATOR.      177 

were,  in  tlie  first  instance,  such  as  tliey  established.  The 
Book  of  Mormon  is  the  historical  foundation,  corresponding 
with  the  Old  Testament  of  the  Christian  Bilde.  Afterward, 
a  volume  of  revelations  to  Smith  and  othex's  was  collected 
and  published,  called  the  Book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants. 
This  corresponds  to  the  Christian's  New  Testament.  It  may- 
be safely  asserted,  therefore,  that  previous  to  the  innovations 
of  Young,  the  Mormon  religion  was  embodied  in  these  two 
volumes.  Their  authority  in  the  church  is  universal  and 
unquestioned. 

Let  us  examine  these  volumes,  and  see  whether  they  teach 
or  countenance  polygamy. 

The  Book  of  Morpjon  nowhere  contains  a  word  in  favor 
of  it.  On  tlie  contrary  all  of  its  principal  characters  were 
monogamists.  Such  was  Lehi,  the  patriarch  of  Mormon 
history.  Such  also  were  Ishmael  and  Nephi.*  That  the 
people  of  Zarahemla  were  monogamists,  is  evident  from  what 
is  said  concerning  them  on  page  146. 

But  we  are  not  left  to  inference  as  to  the  testimony  of  this 
volume  concerning  this  practice.  On  page  119  we  have  the 
following  :  — 

"  Behold  the  Lamanites,  your  brethren,  whom  ye  hate  because 
of  their  filthiness  and  the  cursings  which  hath  come  upon  their 
skins,  are  more  righteous  than  you ;  for  they  have  not  forgotten 
1;he  commandment  of  the  Lord,  which  was  given  unto  our  fathers, 
that  they  should  have,  save  it  were  one  wife ;  and  concubines  they 
should  have  none ;  and  there  should  not  be  whoredoms  committed 
among  them.  And  now,  this  commandment  they  observe  to  keep ; 
wherefore,  because  of  this  observance,  in  keeping  this  command- 
ment, the  Lord  God  will  not  destroy  them,  but  will  be  merciful 
unto  them  ;  and  one  day  they  shall  become  a  blessed  people."  f 

Again :  — 

"  And  it  came  to  pass  that  Riplakish  did  not  do  that  which  was 
right  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  for  he  did  have  many  wives  and 
concubines,  and  did  lay  that  upon  men's  shoulders  which  was 

*  Book  of  Moiinon,  pp.  3, 12,  33,  43.  f  Ibid.  p.  119. 

12 


178  BRIGHAM  AS  PROPHET,  SEER,  AND  REVELATOR. 

grievous  to  be  borne  ;  yea,  he  did  tax  them  with  heavy  taxes ;  and 
with  the  taxes  he  did  build  many  spacious  buildings."  * 

And  again  :  — 

"  And  he  [Noah]  did  not  walk  in  the  ways  of  his  father.  [Ze- 
nifF.]  For  behold,  he  did  not  keep  the  commandments  of  God, 
but  he  did  walk  after  the  desires  of  his  own  heart.  And  he  had 
many  wives  and  concubines.  And  he  did  cause  his  people  to 
commit  sin,  and  to  do  that  which  was  abominable  in  the  sight  of 
the  Lord.  Yea,  and  they  did  commit  whoredoms  and  all  manner 
of  wickedness.  And  he  laid  a  tax  of  one  fifth  part  of  all  they 
possessed."  ..."  All  this  did  he  take  to  support  himself,  and 
his  wives  and  his  concubines  ;  and  also  his  priests,  and  their  wives 
and  their  concubines ;  thus  he  had  changed  the  affairs  of  the 
kingdom."  f 

"  And  it  came  to  pass  that  he  placed  his  heart  upon  his  riches, 
and  he  spent  his  time  in  riotous  living,  with  his  wives  and  his  con- 
cubines ;  and  so  did  also  his  priests  spend  their  time  with  har- 
lots." t 

As  if  to  place  this  matter  beyond  any  question,  we  have 
the  following  still  more  explicit  testimony,  on  pages  115  and 

118:  — 

"  And  now  it  came  to  pass  that  the  people  of  Nephi,  under  the 
reign  of  the  second  king,  began  to  grow  hard  in  their  hearts  and 
indulge  themselves  somewhat  in  wicked  practices,  such  as  like 
unto  David  of  old,  desiring  many  wives  and  concubines,  and  also 
Solomon  his  son."     .     .     . 

"  The  word  of  God  burdens  me  because  of  your  grosser  crimes. 
For  behold,  thus  saith  the  Lord,  this  people  begin  to  wax  in  iniq- 
uity ;  they  understand  not  the  Scriptures ;  for  they  seek  to  ex- 
cuse themselves  in  committing  whoredoms,  because  of  the  things 
which  were  written  concerning  David,  and  Solomon  his  son.  Be- 
hold David  and  Solomon  truly  had  many  wives  and  concubines, 
which  thing  was  abominable  before  me,  saith  the  Lord  ;  wherefore, 
thus  saith  the  Lord,  I  have  led  this  people  forth  out  of  the  land 

*  Book  of  Moiinon,  p.  535.    5th  sec.  of  4th  chap,  of  Book  of  Ether. 
t  Booh  of  Mormon,  p.  167. 
{  Ibid.  p.  168. 


BRIGHAM  AS  PROPHET,  SEER,  AND  REVEL ATOR.      179 

of  Jerusalem,  by  the  power  of  mine  arm,  that  I  might  raise  up 
unto  me  a  righteous  branch  from  the  fruit  of  the  loins  of  Joseph. 
Wherefore,  I  the  Lord  God,  will  not  suffer  that  this  people  shall 
do  like  unto  them  of  old.  Wherefore,  my  brethren,  hear  me,  and 
hearken  to  the  word  of  the  Lord  ;  for  there  shall  not  any  man 
among  you  have,  save  it  be  one  wife ;  and  concubines  he  shall  have 
none ;  for  I,  the  Lord  God,  delighteth  in  the  chastity  of  women. 
And  whoredoms  are  an  abomination  before  me  ;  thus  saith  the 
Lord  of  Hosts."* 

Here  it  is  stated  as  coming  from  God  himself,  that  the 
polygamy  and  concubinage  of  David  and  Solomon  were 
abominable  before  the  Lord.  And  yet  we  every  day  hear 
David  and  Solomon,  as  well  as  Abraham,  Jacob,  and  others, 
cited  by  those  practising  polygamy,  as  their  illustrious  proto- 
types, whose  example  is  worthy  of  all  imitation. 

Orson  Pratt,  the  ablest  writer  on  Mormon  theology,  is 
compelled  to  admit  that  the  Book  of  Mormon  is  opposed  to 
polygamy.     He  says  :  — 

"  Do  you  believe  that  the  Book  of  Mormon  is  a  divine  revela- 
tion ?  We  do.  Does  that  book  teach  the  doctrine  of  plurality 
of  wives  V  It  does  not.  Does  the  Lord  in  that  book  forbid  the 
plurality  doctrine  ?  He  forbid  the  ancient  Nephites  to  have  any 
more  than  one  wife."  f 

Elder  Pratt  then  endeavors  to  blunt  the  force  of  this  testi- 
mony in  the  following  manner  :  — 

"  Why  were  the  ancient  Nephites  restricted  to  the  one-wife 
system  ?  Because,  first,  the  number  of  males  and  females  amonn- 
them,  at  the  time  the  command  was  given,  was  about  equal.  Sec- 
ondly, there  was  no  probability  that  judgments,  wars,  or  any  other 
calamities  which  were  to  befall  their  nation,  would  produce  a  dis- 
proportionate number  of  males  and  females.  Thfrdly,  this  small 
remant  of  the  tribe  of  Joseph,  were,  at  that  time,  about  equally 
righteous ;  and  one  was  about  as  capable  of  raising  up  a  family  in 

*  Book  of  Mormon,  pp.  115,  118.    1st  and  2d  chapters  of  the  Book  of 
Jacob, 
t  Article  on  Celestial  ilarriage,  in  The  Seer,  Vol.  I.  p.  30. 


180      BRIGHAM  AS  PROPHET,  SEER,  AND  REVELATOR. 

righteousness  as  another.  And,  lastly,  the  Lord  himself  informs 
them,  in  the  same  connection  with  the  quotation  which  I  have 
just  made,  that  if  He  would  have  them  practise  differently  from 
what  He  had  previously  taught  them,  it  must  be  by  His  com- 
mand." * 

Thus,  in  the  attempt  to  weaken  the  force  of  the  evidence 
furnished  by  the  Book  of  Mormon  against  polygamy,  Pratt 
acknowledges,  in  the  most  explicit  manner,  the  validity  of 
the  argument  against  it,  founded  upon  the  equality  in  the 
numbers  of  each  sex.  Two  of  the  four  reasons  why  the 
Nephites  were  to  retain  monogamy,  relate  to  the  equality  in 
the  numbers  of  the  sexes.  But  there  is  a  substantial  equal- 
ity in  the  numbers  of  the  sexes,  not  only  in  the  United  States, 
but  in  Utah  Territory.     (See  U.  S.  Census.) 

Let  us  now  turn  to  the  Book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants, 
and  see  if  we  can  find  in  that  volume  any  authority  for 
polygamy.  The  following  passages  will  determine  the  ques- 
tion :  — 

"  Thou  shalt  love  thy  wife  with  all  thy  heart,  and  shalt  cleave 
unto  her,  and  none  else ;  and  he  that  looketh  upon  a  woman  to 
lust  afler  her,  shall  deny  the  faith,  and  shall  not  have  the  spirit ; 
and  if  he  repents  not  he  shall  be  cast  out."  f 

Again.  In  1845,  the  year  after  Smith's  death,  an  Appen- 
dix was  authoritatively  added  to  the  Book  of  Doctrine  and 
Covenants,  containing  the  following,  which  is  extracted  from 
the  section  entitled  "  Marriage  "  :  — 

"  2.  Marriage  should  be  celebrated  with  prayer  and  thanks- 
giving ;  and  at  the  solemnization,  the  persons  to  be  married  stand- 
ing together,"  etc.,  "  he  [the  person  officiating]  shall  say,  calling 
each  by  their  names,  '  you  both  mutually  agree  to  be  each  other's 
companion,  husband  and  wife,  observing  the  legal  rights  belonging 
to  this  condition ;  that  is,  keeping  yourselves  wholly  lor  each  other, 
and  from  all  others,  during  your  lives.'     And  when  they  have  an- 

»  The  Seer,  Vol.  I.  p.  30.  ^ 

■f  Doctrine  and  Covenants,  p.  125. 


BRIGHAM  AS  PROPHET,  SEER,  AND  REVELATOR.   181 

Bwered  '  yes,'  lie  shall  pronounce  them  '  husband  and  wife,'  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  by  virtue  of  the  laws  of  the 
country,  and  authority  vested  in  him.     .     .     . 

"4.  .  .  .  Inasmuch  as  this  church  of  Christ  has  been  re- 
proached with  the  crime  of  fornication  and  polygamy  ;  we  declare 
that  we  believe  that  one  man  should  have  one  wife;  and  one 
woman  but  one  husband,  except  in  case  of  death,  when  either  is 
at  liberty  to  marry  again."  * 

Can  anything  be  more  explicit  than  this  ?  Polygamy  is 
not  only  expressly  repudiated  by  the  church,  but  is  classed 
by  the  side  of  fornication  as  a  crime. 

Thus  we  find  that  polygamy  is  contrary  to  both  books  of 
the  Mormon  Bible.  That  it  is,  in  fact,  strongly  condemned 
in  those  volumes. 

It  is,  therefore,  no  part  of  the  Mormon  religion,  as  given 
to  the  world  by  Joseph  Smith. 

But  polygamy  is  practised  in  Utah.  Whence  did  it  arise, 
and  upon  what  foundation  does  it  rest  ? 

Like  slavery,  and  all  other  great  social  evils,  it  had  its 
origin,  doubtless,  in  an  abuse  of  the  passions  of  man. 

It  was  first  publicly  announced  and  recommended  in  Utah 
Territory  on  the  29th  of  August,  1852,  by  Orson  Pratt  and 
Brigham  Young,  at  a  politico-religious  meeting,  held  in 
Great  Salt  Lake  City. 

On  that  occasion,  President  Young  said  :  — 

"  You  heard  Brother  Pratt  state,  this  morning,  that  a  Revela- 
tion would  be  read  this  afternoon,  which  was  given  previous  to 
Joseph's  death.  It  contains  a  doctrine  a  small  portion  of  the 
world  is  opposed  to  ;  but  I  can  deliver  a  prophecy  upon  it.  Though 
that  doctrine  has  not  been  preached  by  the  Elders,  this  people 
have  believed  in  it  for  years. 

"  The  original  copy  of  this  Revelation  was  burnt  up.  William 
Clayton  was  the  man  who  wrote  it  from  the  mouth  of  the  Prophet. 
In  the  mean  time  it  was  in  Bishop  Whitney's  possession.  He 
wished  the  privilege  ^o  copy  it,  which  Brother  Joseph  granted. 
Sister  Emma  (wife  of  Joseph  Smith)  burnt  the  original.    The  rea- 

*  Booh  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants,  pp.  330,  331.  ^ 


182      BFJGIIAM  AS  PROPHET,  SEER,  AND   REYELATOR. 

son  I  mention  this  is,  because  that  the  people  who  did  know  of  the 
Kevehition,  suppose  it  was  not  now  in  existence. 

"  The  Revelation  will  be  read  to  you.  The  principle  spoken 
upon  by  Brother  Pratt  this  morning,  we  believe  in. 

.  .  .  "  Many  others  are  of  the  same  mind.  They  are  not 
ignorant  of  wliat  we  are  doing  in  our  social  capacity.  They  have 
cried  out  proclaim  it ;  but  it  would  not  do  a  few  years  ago ;  every- 
thing must  come  in  its  time,  as  there  is  a  time  to  all  things.  I  am 
now  ready  to  proclaim  it. 

"  Tliis  Revelation  has  been  in  my  possession  many  years ;  and 
who  has  known  it  ?  None  but  those  who  should  know  it.  I  keep 
a  patent  lock  on  my  desk,  and  there  does  not  anything  leak  out 
that  should  not."  * 

The  Revelation,  so  called,  which  was  read  at  the  close  of 
this  sermon,  purports  to  have  been  given  to  Joseph  Smith, 
July  12,  1843.  It  is  very  lengthy,  consisting  of  twenty-five 
sections  or  paragraphs.  It  is  published  in  full,  in  Burton's 
"  City  of  the  Saints,"  and  in  vai'ious  other  pubhcations.  The 
following  synopsis  exhibits  all  that  is  essential  of  this  extra- 
ordinary Revehition. 

THE    REVELATION. 

Section  1.  "  Verily,  thus  saith  the  Lord  unto  you,  my 
servant  Joseph,  that  inasmuch  as  you  have  inquired  of  my 
hand  to  know  and  understand  wherein  I,  the  Lord,  justified 
my  servants  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  as  also  Moses,  Da- 
vid, and  Solomon,  my  servants,  as  touching  the  principle  and 
doctrine  of  their  having  many  wives  and  concubines :  Be- 
hold, and  lo,  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  will  answer  thee 
as  touching  this  matter."  [The  balance  of  this  section  is 
prefatory,  declaring  that  a  new  law  and  everlasting  covenant 
is  about  to  be  revealed,  and  that  he  who  abides  not  that  cov- 
enant shall  be  damned.] 

Sec.  2.  All  covenants,  contracts,  vows,  etc.,  not  made  and 

*  Sermon  of  Brip:ham  Young,  published  in  the  Descret  News,  Extra, 
of  September  14,  1852. 


BRIGHAM  AS   TROPHET,  SEER,  AND  REVELATOR.      183 

sealed  by  the  Holy  Spirit  of  promise,  of  him  who  is  anointed 
(Joseph  Smith)  both  as  Avell  for  time  and  for  all  eternity, 
are  of  no  efficacy  or  force  after  the  resurrection. 

Sec.  3  represents  the  necessity  of  having  everything  sanc- 
tioned by  the  Almighty. 

Secs.  4  and  5.  Persons  married  for  life  only,  or  for  time 
and  eternity,  but  not  by  the  proper  authority,  not  boimd  to 
each  other  after  this  life. 

Sec.  6  provides  that  if  a  man  marry  a  wife  by  the  law  of 
God,  and  by  the  new  and  everlasting  covenant,  and  if  they 
abide  in  the  covenant,  and  do  not  shed  innocent  blood,  then 
the  covenant  shall  be  binding  throughout  time  and  eternity, 
"  and  they  shall  pass  by  the  angels,  and  the  gods  which  are 
set  there,  to  their  exaltation  and  glory  in  all  things." 

Sec.  7  declares  that  such  shall  be  gods  in  the  eternal 
world. 

Sec.  8  states  that  none  can  receive  such  exaltation  except 
tho>e  who  receive  and  abide  the  law  of  Gud. 

Sec.  9.  ''  Verily,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  if  a  man  marry  a 
wife  accordmg  to  my  word,  and  they  are  sealed  by  the  Holy 
Spirit  of  promise  according  to  mine  appointment,  and  he  or 
she  shall  commit  any  sin  or  transgression  of  the  new  and 
everlasting  covenant  whatever,  and  all  manner  of  blasphe- 
mies, and  if  they  commit  no  murder  wherein  they  shed  inno- 
cent blood,  yet  they  shall  come  forth  in  the  first  resurrection, 
and  enter  into  their  exaltation,  but  they  shall  be  destroyed 
in  the  flesh,  and  shall  be  delivered  unto  the  bufTetings  of 
Satan  unto  the  day  of  redemption,  saith  the  Lord  God." 

Sec.  10  explains  that  shedding  innocent  blood,  and  assent- 
ing unto  the  death  of  Christ,  is  the  blasphemy  against  the 
Holy  Ghost,  which  shall  not  be  forgiven  in  the  world  nor  out 
of  the  world. 

Secs.  11  and  12  refer  to  Abraham  as  the  father  of  the 
faithful,  and  him  to  whom  the  promises  were  made.  "  This 
promise  is  yours  also,  because  ye  are  of  Abraham,  and  the 
promise  was  made  unto  Abraham."   "  Go  ye,  therefore,  and 


184   BRIGHAM  AS  PROPHET,  SEER,  AND  REVELATOR. 

do  the  Avoiks  of  Abraham  ;  and  enter  ye  into  my  law,  and 
ye  sluill  be  saved." 

Skc.  13  intimates  that  Sarah  acted  in  accordance  with 
the  command  of  God  in  giving  Ilagar  to  Abraham. 

Sec.  14  refers  to  the  concubines  which  Abraham  received, 
and  says,  "  they  bare  him  children,  and  it  was  accounted  unto 
him  for  righteousness."  The  latter  part  of  the  section  is  as 
follows  :  "  David  also  received  many  wives  and  concubines, 
as  also  Solomon,  and  Moses  my  servant ;  and  also  many 
others  of  my  servants,  from  the  beginning  of  creation  until 
this  time ;  and  in  nothing  did  they  sin  save  in  those  things 
which  they  received  not  of  me." 

Skc.  15.  "  David's  wives  and  concubines  were  given  unto 
him,  of  me,  by  the  hand  of  Nathan,  my  servant,  and  others 
of  the  projihets  who  had  the  keys  of  this  power ;  and  in  none 
of  these  things  did  he  sin  against  me,  save  in  the  case  of 
Uriah  and  his  wife ;  and  therefore  he  hath  fallen  from  his 
exaltation,  and  received  his  portion  ;  and  he  shall  not  inherit 
them  out  of  the  world  ;  for  I  gave  them  unto  another,  saith 
the  Lord." 

Sec.  16  prescribes  certain  regulations  concerning  those 
who  commit  adultery,  and  provides  that  in  case  the  husband 
commits  adultery,  and  the  wife  is  innocent,  and  the  fact  is 
revealed  by  God  to  Joseph,  the  wife  shall  be  given  by  Smith 
to  one  who  has  not  committed  adultery,  "  but  hath  been 
faithful,  for  he  shall  be  made  ruler  over  many." 

Sec.  17.  "And  verily,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  what- 
soever you  seal  on  earth  shall  be  sealed  in  heaven ;  and 
whatsoever  you  bind  on  earth  in  my  name  and  by  my  word, 
saith  the  Lord,  it  shall  be  eternally  bound  in  the  heavens ; ' 
and  whosesoever  sins  you  remit  on  earth  shall  be  remitted 
eternally  in  the  heavens ;  and  whosesoever  sins  ye  retain  on 
earth  shall  be  retained'  in  heaven." 

Sec.  18.  "And  again,  verily  I  say,  whomsoever  you  bless 
I  will  bless,  and  whomsoever  you  curse  I  will  curse,  saith 
the  Lord;  for  I,  the  Lord,  am  thy  God." 


BEIGHAM  AS  PROPHET,  SEER,  AND  REVELATOR.      185 

Sec.  1 9.  "  And  again,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  my  servant 
Joseph,  that  whatsoever  you  give  on  earth,  and  to  whomso- 
ever you  give  any  one  on  earth,  by  my  word,  and  accox'ding 
to  my  law,  it  shall  be  visited  with  blessings,  and  not  cursings, 
and  with  my  power,  saith  the  Lord,  and  shall  be  without 
condemnation,  on  earth  and  in  heaven."  Then  follows  a  dec- 
laration to  the  effect  that  Smith  has  found  favor  with  God, 
and  that  he  will  forgive  his  sins,  etc. 

Sec.  20  commands  Emma  Smith  "  that  she  stay  herself, 
and  partake  not  of  that  which  I  commanded  you  to  offer 
unto  her  ;  for  I  did  it,  saith  the  Lord,  to  prove  you  all,"  etc., 
and  continues  as  follows :  "  And  let  mine  handmaid,  Emma 
Smith,  receive  all  those  that  have  been  given  unto  my  ser- 
vant Joseph,  and  who  are  virtuous  and  pure  before  me  ;  and 
those  who  are  not  pure,  and  have  said  they  ai'e  pure,  shall 
be  destroyed,  saith  the  Lord  God ;  for  I  am  the  Lord  thy 
God,"  etc. 

Sec.  21  commands  Emma  Smith,  wife  of  Joseph,  to  abide 
and  cleave  unto  Joseph  and  none  else,  under  penalty  of  de- 
struction. She  is  also  exhorted  to  forgive  Joseph  his  tres- 
passes. 

Sec  22  forbids  Joseph  putting  his  property  out  of  his 
hands. 

Sec.  23  touches  upon  the  law  of  the  priesthood,  and  says 
of  any  one  who  is  called  of  God,  as  was  Aaron,  "  if  he  do 
anything  in  my  name,  and  according  to  my  hiw,  and  by  my 
word,  he  will  not  commit  sin,  and  I  will  justify  him."  Jo- 
seph is  to  be  justified,  etc. 

The  last  two  sections  are  as  follows :  — 

Sec.  24.  "  And  again,  as  pertaining  to  the  law  of  the 
priesthood :  if  any  man  espouse  a  virgin,  and  desire  to  es- 
pouse another,  and  the  first  gives  her  consent ;  and  if  he 
espouse  the  second,  and  they  are  virgins,  and  have  vowed  to 
Vio  other  man,  then  he  is  justified ;  he  cannot  commit  adul- 
tery, for  they  are  given  unto  him  ;  for  he  cannot  commit 
adultery  with  that  that  belongeth  unto  them,  and  to   none 


186      BRIGIIAM  AS  PROPHET,  SEER,  AND  REYELATOR. 

el-e ;  and  if  he  have  ten  virgins  given  unto  him  by  thi>  law, 
he  cannot  commit  adultery,  for  they  belong  to  him,  and  they 
are  given  unto  him ;  therefore  is  he  justified.  But  if  one.  or 
either  of  the  ten  virgins,  after  she  is  espoused,  shall  be  with 
another  man,  she  has  committed  adultery,  and  shall  be  de- 
stroyed ;  for  they  are  given  unto  him  to  multiply  and  replen- 
ish the  earth,  according  to  my  commandment,  and  to  fulfil 
the  promise  which  was  given  by  my  Father  before  the  foun- 
dation of  the  world,  and  for  their  exaltation  in  the  eternal 
worlds,  that  they  may  bear  the  souls  of  men ;  for  herein  is 
the  work  of  my  Father  continued,  that  he  may  be  glorified." 
Sec.  25.  "  And  again,  verily,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  if  any 
man  have  a  wife  who  holds  the  keys  of  this  power,  and  he 
teaches  unto  her  the  law  of  my  priesthood  as  pertaining  to 
these  things,  then  shall  she  believe,  and  administer  unto 
hira,  or  she  shall  be  destroyed,  saith  the  Lord  your  God ;  for 
I  will  destroy  her  ;  for  I  will  magnify  my  name  upon  all 
those  who  receive  and  abide  in  my  law.  Therefore  it  shall  be 
lawful  in  me,  if  she  receive  not  this  law,  for  him  to  receive 
all  things  whatsoever  I,  the  Lord  his  God,  will  give  unto 
him,  because  she  did  not  believe  and  administer  unto  him, 
according  to  my  word  ;  and  she  then  becomes  the  transgressor, 
and  he  is  exempt  from  the  laAV  of  Sai-ah,  who  administered 
unto  Abraham  according  to  the  law,  when  I  commanded 
Abraham  to  take  Hagar  to  wife.  And  now,  as  pertaining  to 
this  law :  Verily,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  I  will  rtveal  more 
unto  you  hereafter  ;  therefore  let  this  suffice  for  the  present. 
Behold,  I  am  Alpha  and  Omega.     Amen." 

Such  is  the  foundation  upon  which  is  built  the  superstruct- 
ure of  Utah  polygamy.  And  the  system  itself,  what  is  it  in 
its  theory  and  practical  application  ?  The  mode  of  its  insti- 
tution has  been  shown.  Its  ceremonials,  and  many  facts 
illustrative  of  its  tendency  and  effects,  will  be  given ;  and  it 
is  for  our  readers  to  determine  how  much  it  is  better  than 
promiscuous  intercourse,   and    to  discover,  if  they  can,  its 


BRIGHAM  AS  PROPPIET,  SEER,  AND  REVELATOR.      187 

redeeming  features,  as  distinguished  from  such  a  state  of 
society. 

No  man  who  has  a  wife  already,  has  any  right  to  make 
propositions  of  marriage  to  a  lady,  until  he  has  consulted  the 
President  of  the  whole  church,  and  through  him  obtained  a 
revelation  from  God  upon  the  subject.  If  the  revelation  be 
favorable,  he  must  next  obtain  the  approbation  of  the  parents, 
and  thirdly,  he  is  to  consult  the  lady  herself. 

It  is  also  necessary  that  the  first  wife  be  consulted.  If  she 
refuses  her  consent,  however,  the  lover  husband  may  take  an 
appeal  to  the  President ;  and  unless  the  wife  can  give  to  the 
President  satisfactory  reasons  why  her  consent  is  withheld, 
the  husband  may  proceed  to  introduce  another  wife  into  the 
family,  against  her  will.  The  plan  is,  either  to  divorce  the 
first  wife,  and  damn  her  eternally,  or  to  torment  her  daily, 
until,  with  a  broken  heart  and  a  crushed  spirit,  she  goes  to 
the  altar,  and  there  gives  anotlier  to  her  husband.  Thus  the 
semblance  of  her  approbation  is  obtained. 

The  exquisite  cruelty  of  this  abominable  practice  will  ap- 
pear most  vividly  from  the  marriage  ceremony. 

"  When  the  day  set  apart  for  the  solemnization  of  the  marriage 
ceremony  has  arrived,  the  bridegroom  and  the  ivife,  and  also  the 
Iride,  together  with  their  relations,  and  such  other  guests  as  may 
be  invited,  assemble  at  the  place  which  they  have  appointed.  The 
scribe  then  proceeds  to  take  the  names,  ages,  native  towns,  coun- 
ties, States,  and  countries  of  the  parties  to  be  married,  which  he 
carefully  enters  on  record.  The  President,  who  is  the  Prophet, 
Seer,  and  Revelator  over  the  whole  church,  throughout  the  whole 
world,  and  who  alone  holds  the  keys  of  authority  in  this  solemn 
ordinance,  calls  upon  the  bridegroom  and  his  wife,  and  the  bride, 
to  arise,  which  they  do,  fronting  the  President.  The  wife  stands 
on  the  left  hand  of  her  husband,  while  the  bride  stands  on  her 
left.  The  President  then  puts  this  question  to  the  wife  :  '  Are  you 
willing  to  give  this  woman  to  your  husband,  to  be  his  lawful  and 
wedded  wife,  for  time  and  all  eternity  ?  If  you  are,  you  will 
manifest  it  by  placing  ber  right  hand  within  the  right  hand  of 
your  husband.'     The  right  hands  of  the  bridegroom  and  the  bride 


188      BKIGILVM  AS  PROPHET,  SEER,  AND  REVELATOR. 

being  thus  joined,  the  wife  takes  her  husband  by  the  left  arm,  as 
if  in  the  attitude  of  walking.  The  President  then  proceeds  to  ask 
the  following  questions  of  the  man :  '  Do  you,  brother,  (calling  him 
by  name)  take  sister  (calling  the  bride  by  name)  by  the  right 
hand,  to  receive  her  unto  yourself,  to  be  your  lawful  and  wedded 
wife,  and  you  to  be  her  lawful  and  wedded  husband,  for  time  and 
for  all  eternity,  with  a  covenant  and  promise  on  your  part,  that 
you  fulfil  all  the  laws,  rites,  and  ordinances  pertaining  to  this  holy 
uiatriinony,  in  the  new  and  everlasting  covenant,  —  doing  this  in 
the  presence  of  God,  angels,  and  these  witnesses,  of  your  own  free 
will  and  choice  ?  '  The  bridegroom  answers,  '  Yes.'  The  President' 
then  puts  the  question  to  the  bride  :  '  Do  you,  sister,  (calling  her 
by  name)  take  brother  (calling  him  by  name)  by  the  right  hand, 
and  give  yourself  to  him  to  be  his  lawful  and  wedded  wife,  for 
time  and  for  all  eternity,  with  a  covenant  and  promise,  on  your 
part,  that  you  will  fulfil  all  the  laws,  rites,  and  ordinances  pertain- 
ing to  this  holy  matrimony,  in  the  new  and  everlasting  covenant,  — 
doing  this  in  the  presence  of  God,  angels,  and  these  witnesses,  of 
your  own  free  will  and  choice  ?  '  The  bride  answers,  '  Yes.'  The 
President  then  saj's :  '  In  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  by 
the  authority  of  the  Holy  Priesthood,  I  pronounce  you  legally  and 
lawfully  husband  and  wife,  for  time  and  all  eternity  ;  and  I  seal  upon 
you  the  blessings  of  the  holy  resurrection,  with  power  to  come  forth 
in  the  morning  of  the  first  resurrection,  clothed  with  glory,  im- 
mortality, and  eternal  lives ;  and  I  seal  upon  you  the  blessings  of 
thrones,  and  dominions,  and  principalities,  and  powers,  and  exal- 
tations ;  together  with  the  blessings  of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob ; 
and  say  unto  you,  be  fruitful  and  multiply,  and  replenish  the 
earth,  that  you  may  have  joy  and  rtjoicing  in  your  posterity,  in 
the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  All  these  blessings,  together  with  all 
other  blessings,  pertaining  to  the  new  and  everlasting  covenant,  I 
seal  upon  your  heads,  and  enjoin  your  faithfulness  unto  the  end,  by 
the  authority  of  the  Holy  Priesthood,  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.    Amen.'" 

The  scribe  then  enter.-^  the  man-iage  on  the  records,  and 
the  parties  retire.  The  wedding  is  then  celebrated  with  a 
feast  at  the  husband's  house,  and  a  "Mormon  dance."  The 
new  wife  is  assigned  a  room,  —  if  indeed  the  happy  husband's 
domicil  contains  two  rooms.  —  and  her  exper'ence  in  "plu- 
rality "  begins. 


BRIGIIAM  AS  PROPHET,  SEER,  AND  REVEL ATOR.     189 

In  well-regulated  Mormon  families,  the  first  wife  stands  at 
the  head  of  domestic  concerns.  She  cari-ies  the  keys  of  the 
Btorehouse,  makes  the  purchases  for  the  family,  and  deals 
them  out  to  the  plural  wives,  in  much  the  same  manner  as 
other  housekeepers  do  to  their  cooks.  The  husband's  will  is 
law,  and  from  it  there  is  no  appeal,  except  in  extreme  cases, 
when  the  Bishop  may  be  consulted. 

If  a  husband  has  lost  his  wife  by  death,  before  he  had  the 
opportunity  of  attending  to  this  holy  ordinance,  and  securing 
her  as  his  lawful  wife  for  eternity,  then  it  is  the  duty  of  the 
second  wife,  first,  to  be  sealed  or  married  to  the  husband,  for 
and  in  the  name  of  the  deceased  wife,  for  all  eternity  ;  and, 
secondly,  to  be  married  for  time  and  eternity  herself,  to  the 
same  man.  Thus,  by  this  holy  ordinance,  both  the  dead  and 
the  living  wife  will  be  his  in  the  eternal  worlds.  But  if,  pre- 
vious to  marriage  for  eternity,  a  woman  lose  her  husband  by 
death,  and  marry  a  second,  and  if  her  first  husband  was  a 
good  man,  then  it  is  the  duty  of  the  second  husband  to  be 
married  to  her  for  eternity,  not  for  himself,  but  in  the  name 
of  her  deceased  husband,  while  he  himself  can  only  be  mar- 
ried to  her  for  time  ;  and  he  is  obliged  to  enter  into  a  cov- 
enant to  deliver  her  up,  and  all  her  children,  to  her  deceased 
husband,  in  the  morning  of  the  first  resurrection. 

Thus,  by  these  refinements,  a  religious  veil,  captivating  to 
the  fancy,  is  thrown  over  the  institution  to  hide  its  deformity. 
The  same  distinctions  are  carried  through  all  the  various  re- 
lations of  life ;  hence  in  case  a  widow  is  married  to  a  wid- 
ower, three  ceremonies  are  necessary,  in  order  fully  to  estab- 
lish the  eternal  relations  of  all  the  parties. 

Incest  is  the  practical  result  of  some  of  the  branches  of 
this  new-fangled  system  of  sealing  and  marriage.  It  has 
already  been  shown,  by  the  report  of  the  Committee  on 
Territories  in  the  United  States  Senate,  and  the  Message  of 
Gov.  Harding,  that  a  mother  and  her  daughters  (by  a  former 
husband)  all  live  together,  as  wives  of  the  same  husband.* 

*  The  marriage  of  brothers  and  sifters  was  at  one  time  openly  encour- 


190    .  BlilGUAM  AS  PKOPIIET,  SEER,  AND  KEVELATOR. 

A  still  more  revolting  relation  is  sometimes  maintained. 
It  is  called  "  heirship,"  and  is  plainly  enough  sanctioned  by 
Young,  as  follows  :  — 

"  The  text  is,  the  right  of  heirship.  I  will,  however,  make  an 
addition  to  the  scripture,  before  I  proceed  further  with  my  re- 
marks, and  say,  '  the  right  of  heirship  in  the  Priesthood.' " 

After  asserting  that  the  riglit  of  heirship  belongs  to  the 
first-born  son,  he  says :  — 

"  There  are  sisters  in  the  cliurch  that  have  been  bereaved  of 
their  husbands,  who  died  full  of  faith  in  the  Holy  Gospel,  and  full 
of  hope  for  a  glorious  resurrection  to  eternal  life.  One  of  them  is 
visited  by  a  High  Priest,  of  whom  she  seeks  inform<ation  touching 
her  situation,  and  that  of  her  husband.  At  the  same  time  the 
woman  has  a  son,  twenty-five  years  of  age,  who  is  an  Elder  in 
one  of  the  Quorums  of  tlie  Seventies,  and  faithful  in  all  the  duties 
connected  with  his  calling.  She  has  also  other  sons  and  daugh- 
ters. She  asks  this  High- Priest  what  she  shall  do  for  her  husband, 
and  he  very  religiously  says  to  her,  '  You  must  be  sealed  to  me, 
and  I  will  bring  up  your  husband,  stand  as  proxy  for  him,  receive 
his  endowments,  and  aU  the  sealing,  keys,  and  blessings,  and  Eter- 
nal Priesthood  for  him,  and  be  the  father  of  your  children.'  Hear 
it,  ye  mothers !  The  mother  that  does  that,  barters  away  the 
sacred  right  of  her  son.  Does  she  know  it  V  No.  But  you  that 
will  hear,  and  be  made  to  understand  the  true  principles  that  gov- 
ern this  matter,  go  from  this  place,  and  do  hereafter  as  has  been 
done  in  by-gone  days ;  instead  of  the  children  being  robbed  of 
their  just  rights,  the  woman  shall  lose  her  children,  and  they  shall 
yet  stand  in  their  place,  and  be  put  in  possession  of  their  rights. 
Let  mothers  honor  their  children.  If  a  woman  has  a  son,  let  her 
honor  that  son."  * 

aged  by  President  Brigham  Yonng.  George  D.  Watt,  reporter  for  the  Des- 
eret  Ntws,  married  his  half-sister,  and  lived  with  her  as  a  wife,  for  about 
twelve  years.  She  passed  as  the  wife  of  Young,  for  several  years,  owing 
to  the  presence  of  gentiles  and  the  prejudices  of  the  saints.  She  has  since 
been  convinced  of  her  error,  and  joined  the  "  new  organization,"  and  M'ith 
ber  three  children  returned  to  the  States. 

*  April  8,  1853,  Deseret  News,  Vol.  III.  No.  12. 


BRIGHAM  AS  PROPHET,  SEER,  AI^D  REVELATOR.  191 

But  we  will  not  pursue  these  disgusting  details  further. 
Capt.  Robert  Burton,  the  famous  English  traveller,  thus 
epitomizes  the  Mormon  faith  :  — 

"  In  the  Tessarakai  Decalogue  above  quoted,  we  find  syncre- 
tized  the  Shemitic  Monotheism,  the  Persian  Dualism,  and  the  Tri- 
ads and  Trinities  of  the  Egyptians  and  the  Hindoos.  The  Hebrews 
also  have  a  personal  Theos ;  the  Buddhists,  avataras  and  incarna- 
tions ;  the  Brahmins,  self-apotheosis  of  man  by  prayer  and  pen- 
ance ;  and  the  East  generally  holds  to  quietism,  —  a  belief  that  re- 
pose is  the  only  hapj^iness,  and  to  a  vast  comphcation  of  states,  in 
the  world  to  be. 

"  The  Mormons  are  like  the  Pythagoreans,  in  their  procreation, 
transmigration,  and  exaltation  of  souls ;  like  the  followers  of  Leu- 
cippus  and  Democritus  in  their  atomic  materialism ;  like  the  Epi- 
cureans in  their  pure  atomic  theories,  their  summum  lonum,  and 
their  sensuous  speculations ;  and  like  the  Platonists  and  Gnos- 
tics in  their  belief  of  the  JEon,  of  ideas,  and  of  moving  principles 
in  element.  They  are  Fetichists  in  their  ghostly  fancies,  their 
evestra,  which  became  souls  and  spirits.  They  are  Jews  in  their 
theocracy,  their  ideas  of  angels,  their  hatred  of  gentiles,  and  their 
utter  segregation  from  the  great  brotherhood  of  mankind.  They 
are  Christians,  inasmuch  as  they  base^  their  faith  upon  the  Bible, 
and  hold  to  the  divinity  of  Christ,  the  fall  of  man,  the  atonement, 
and  the  regeneration.  They  are  Arians,  inasmuch  as  they  hold 
Christ  to  be  '  the  first  of  God's  creatures,'  a  '  perfect  creature,  but 
still  a  creature.' 

"  They  are  Moslems  in  their  views  of  the  inferior  status  of  wo- 
mankind, in  their  polygamy,  and  in  their  resurrection  of  the  mate- 
rial body.  Like  the  followers  of  the  Arabian  Prophet,  they  hardly 
fear  death,  because  they  have  elaborated  '  continuation.'  They 
take  no  leap  in  the  dark ;  they  spring  from  this  sublunary  stage 
into  a  known,  not  into  an  unknown  world  ;  hence  also  their  wor- 
ship is  eminently  secular,  their  sermons  are  political  or  commercial, 
and  —  religion  being  with  them  not  a  thing  apart,  but  a  portion 
and  parcel  of  every-day  life  —  the  inteiwention  of  the  Lord  in 
their  material  affairs  becomes  natural,  and  only  to  be  expected. 

"  Their  visions,  prophecies,  and  miracles  are  those  of  the  lUumi- 
nati ;  their  mysticism  that  of  the  Druses,  and  their  belief  in  the 
Millennium  is  a  completion  of  the  dreams  of  the  Apocalyptic  sects. 


192     BRIGHAM  AS  PROPHET,  SEER,  AND  REYELATOR. 

Masonry  has  evidently  entered  into  their  scheme ;  the  Demiurgus 
whom  they  worship  is  '  as  good  at  mechanical  inventions  as  at  any 
other  business.' 

"With  their  later  theories,  Methodism,  Swedenborgianism, — 
especially  in  its  view  of  the  future  state,  —  and  Transcendental- 
ism are  curiously  intermingled.  And,  finally,  we  can  easily  dis- 
cern, in  their  doctrine  of  affinity  of  minds  and  sympathy  of  souls, 
the  leaven  of  that  faith  which,  beginning  with  the  Mesmer,  and 
progi'essing  through  the  Rochester  Rappers,  and  the  Poughkeep- 
sie  Seer,  threatens  to  extend  wherever  the  susceptible  nervous 
temperament  becomes  the  characteristic  of  the  race."  * 

According  to  this  learned  author,  Mormonism  is  a  con- 
glomeration of  all  the  isms  from  Adam  to  the  present 
tixne. 

The  predominant  characteristics  of  Mormonism  are,  the 
concentration  of  power  in  one  individual,  —  the  entire  unity  of 
church  and  state,  —  and  the  united  efforts  of  the  people  and 
their  leaders  to  establish  and  maintain  a  kingdom,  spiritual 
and  temporal,  which  shall  spread  over  the  whole  earth,  and 
result  in  the  complete  subjugation  and  subordination  of  all 
other  kingdoms,  principalities,  and  powers. 

The  establishment  of  polygamy  among  such  a  people,  was 
no  difficult  matter.  It  was  but  an  easy  step  from  materialism 
to  sensualism.  Here  the  pas.-ions  and  lusts  harmonize  with 
the  love  of  power  and  dominion. 

The  following  toasts  were  given  at  a  celebration  on  the 
24th  of  July ,t  1856.  Therein  the  Mormons  speak  for  them- 
selves. 

"  Mormonism.  A  plurality  of  worlds,  a  pluralitj-  of  gods,  and 
a  plurality  of  wives,  with  all  truth  in  all  eternity." 

"  President  Brigham  Young.  With  the  keys  of  heaven  and 
earth  to  open  and  shut,  and  aU  Israel  to  sanction." 

•  City  of  the  Saints,  pp.  397,  398. 

t  The  24th  of  July,  1847,  was  the  day  when  the  first  Mormons  arrived  in 
Salt  Lake  Vallej'.  The  24th  of  July  is  therefore  celebrated  by  them  as  the 
4th  is  bj'  gentiles. 


CHAPTER  X. 

BEIGHAM  AS  LORD  OF  THE  HAREM. 

Brigham's  Block.  —  The  Lion  House. — The  Tithing-House.  —  The  Bee- 
hive House,  Office,  etc.  —  Description  of  the  Harem.  —  Plan,  Rooms, 
etc.,  of  each  Floor,  and  who  occupies  the  same.  —  Life  at  the  Harem.  — 
Brigham  at  Home.      ^ 

Brigham's  Block  consists  of  about  twenty  acres,  situ- 
ated in  the  northern  part  of  the  city,  and  on  the  "first  bench." 
These  "  benches  "  are  level  plateaus,  or  ridges  running  along 
at  the  base,  and  parallel  with  the  mountain  sides,  and  rising 
one  above  another,  in  regular  succession.  They  are  supposed 
to  have  been  formed  by  the  action  of  water,  which  doubtless 
at  one  time,  covered  the  whole  country,  half  way  to  the 
mountain  tops.  These  benches  overlook  the  city,  which  is 
mostly  built  on  the  flats,  or  bottom  lands  of  the  Jordan  River. 
From  Brigham's  Bench  the  view  is  particularly  beautiful, 
including  the  lake  spread  out  in  all  its  grandeur  to  the  west- 
ward, with  mountains  rising  in  and  beyond  it,  and  mountains 
bounding  the  horizon  in  every  other  direction. 

The  grounds  are  surrounded  by  a  wall  from  eight  to  ten 
feet  in  height,  built  of  pebble-stones,  cemented  with  mortar, 
and  strengthened  and  supported  by  semicircular  buttresses, 
at  equal  distances.  The  main  entrance  faces  south,  and  the 
gateway  is  surmounted  by  a  huge  eagle  carved  in  stone, 
which  sits  in  a  very  uncomfortable  position,  and  looks  as 
though  desirous  of  soaring  to  his  native  hills,  or  of  making  a 
descent  upon  some  of  the  denizens  of  earth.  His  business  is 
to  watch  and  see  who  enters  this  sacred  precinct,  and  to  see 
that  every  third  load  of  wood  brought  from  City  Creek  (or 


196  BRIGHAM  AS  LORD  OF  THE  HAREM. 

Brigbara's)  Canyon,  which  leads  into  this  enclosure  from  the 
north,  is  deposited  at  the  Prophet's  door.  The  only  entrance 
into  tlii.s  canyon  is  throucjh  this  gate,  and  the  canyon  itself 
contains  the  only  wood  wilhin  fifteen  miles  of  the  city.  The 
gold  also,  which  it  is  well  under.<tood  lies  embedded  in  City 
Creek  Canyon,  is  thus  pretty  well  guarded. 

The  grounds  are  regularly  laid  out  by  William  C.  Staines, 
one  of  Brigham's  adopted  sons.  The  Pro})het  himself  is 
very  fond  of  fruit,  and  has  carried  its  culture  to  a  considera- 
ble degree  of  perfection.  Large  numbers  of  apple,  pear, 
peach,  and  apricot  trees,  have  been  set  out,  and  are  producing 
every  year.  Grape  culture  also  has  not  been  neglected.  It 
is  a  custom  here  to  present  the  President  with  a  specimen 
of  every  new  variety  of  fruit  and  vegetable .  raised,  and  he 
receives  very  graciously  anything  presented,  from  a  barrel 
of  brandy  to  an  umbrella,  and  is  sure  to  think  more  of  the 
donor,  ever  afterward. 

Everything  bears  the  mark  of  utility,  and  nothing  is  ex- 
pended for  show,  or  merely  to  gratify  taste.  No  expensive 
flower-garden  or  green-house  is  to  be  seen,  and  this  is  per- 
fectly characteristic  of  the  Prophet,  who  is  thoroughly  utili- 
tarian in  all  his  views  and  tendencies. 

On  the  southwest  corner,  and  fronting  the  temple  block, 
stands  the  tithing-store  and  office,  and  the  Deseret  printing- 
office.  A  description  of  the  tithing-office  and  store,  with  its 
concomitant  system,  is  given  elsewhere.  Back  of  the  tithing- 
office,  is  a  cattle-yard  and  barn,  and  numerous  other  build- 
ings connected  with  tithing  operations.  Also  a  long  row  of 
buildings  for  various  mechanical  purposes :  a  car[)enter's 
shop,  shoe-shop,  etc.,  with  a  blacksmith's  shop  in  the  rear.  A 
number  of  small  tenements  are  scattered  over  the  premises, 
in  which  some  of  the  employees  reside. 

The  next  large  building,  east  of  the  Deseret  store  and 
printing-office,  is  the  "  Lion  House,"  or  Harem. 

Further  to  the  east,  and  connected  with  the  Harem  by  a 
covered  passage-way,  is  Brigham's  general  business  office. 


BRIGHAM  AS  LORD  OF  THE  HAREM.  197 

This  is  a  large  room,  with  three  desks  on  either  side ;  those 
to  the  left  on  entering,  being  appropriated  to  the  clerks  of 
"  Brigham  Young,  Trustee  in  Trust  for  the  Church,"  and 
those  to  the  right,  used  by  the  clerks  of  "  B.  Young  &  Co." 
At  the  end  opposite  the  door  is  a  large  platform  railed  off, 
and  a  gallery  runs  round  the  upper  wall.  The  bookcases 
are  of  the  yellow  box  elder-wood,  highly  polished.  A  busi- 
ness-like air  pervades  the  room,  and  all  is  neat  and  clean. 

Still  further  east  and  connected  by  another  passage-way,  is 
the  private  office  of  the  "  President."  This  is  a  plain,  neat 
room,  about  twenty-five  feet  square.  A  large  writing-desk 
and  money-safe,  tables,  sofas,  and  chairs,  and  a  "  store " 
carpet,  make  up  the  furniture  of  the  room.  Back  of,  and 
adjoining  this,  js  the  sanctum  sanctorum  ;  the  Prophet's  own 
private  bedroom.  Few,  even  of  the  family,  are  permitted 
to  enter  this  room  without  special  invitation.  Here  is  the 
"  veil,"  behind  which  the  Prophet  receives  his  "  revelations." 
Here  he  consults  on  his  most  private  and  important  matters. 
He  usually  occupies  this  room  alone,  and  when  he  desires 
the  company  of  one  of  his  wives,  sends  a  message  to  that 
effect.  When  he  is  sick,  he  designates  one  of  them  to  attend 
upon  him. 

The  next  building  to  the  eastward  is  the  Bee-Hive  House, 
so  named  from  models  of  bee-hives,  on  the  top  and  in  front 
of  it.  The  honey-bee  is  the  Mormon  symbol,  as  according  to 
"  Reformed  Egyptian,"  Deseret  means  "  the  honey-bee."  As 
yet,  however,  the  term  applies  only  by  faith,  to  Utah,  as  that 
industrious  insect  is  almost  an  utter  stranger  to  her  borders. 

The  Bee-Hive  House  is  a  large,  handsome  adobe  building, 
excellently  plastered  on  the  outside,  and  dazzlingly  white. 
It  is  a  two-storied  tenement,  and  balconied  from  ground  to 
roof.  On  the  top  is  an  observatory,  surmounted  by  a  bee- 
hive. Its  cost  was  about  $65,000,  and  it  is  the  best  edifice 
in  the  Territory. 

Eastward  still,  and  farther  back  from  the  road,  stands  the 
6chool-house,  a  white  building,  with  green  blinds,  and  a  cu- 


198  BRIGHAM  AS  LORD  OF  THE  HAREM. 

pola.  Here  the  children  of  the  Prophet,  about  fifty  in  num- 
ber, are  educated.  Though  not  an  educated  man  himself, 
nor  a  patron  of  learning,  among  the  people  he  employs  good 
teachers,  and  takes  considerable  pains  in  the  education  of  his 
children. 

Farther  to  the  right,  upon  an  eminence,  stands  the  "  White 
House,"  occupied  by  Mrs.  Young,  the  first  wife,  and  her 
children.  This  is  a  very  lonesome-looking  old  house,  just 
such  a  one  as  you  might  fancy  to  be  haunted.  It  was  the 
first  one  built  by  Young,  and  gla-s  being  then  very  expen- 
sive, the  windows  are  few  and  small. 

These,  with  other  smaller  buildings,  make  up  the  improve- 
ments on  the  Prophet's  Block,  and  constitute  a  small  town 
of  themselves. 

The  Harem. 

The  "  Lion  House  "  is  a  three-storied  building.  First,  a 
basement,  built  of  stone ;  then  the  main  building,  ©f  wood, 
with  peaked  gable,  and  narrow-pointed  Gothic  windows,  and 
steep  roof.  This  house  cost  over  $30,000,  and  would  have 
cost  more,  but  for  the  economy  of  the  owner.  It  was  com- 
pleted, ready  for  the  shingles,  and  the  shingles  were  waiting. 
At  a  meeting  in  the  Taberaacle  on  Sunday,  he  announced 
that  he  had  a  mission  for  all  the  carpenters,  and  asked  if 
they  would  accept  it.  They  raised  their  hands,  and  were 
then  coolly  told  to  "  shingle  the  Lion  House  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  Holy  Priesthood."  A 
large  lion,  carved  in  stone,  is  placed  upon  a  pillared  portico, 
in  front  of  this  edifice,  "  resting,  but  watchful." 

The  following  is  the  inside  plan  of  the  Lion  House  :  — 
Principal  Story.  —  No.  1.  Parlor.  You  enter  the  parlor 
from  the  left,  and  find  a  long,  narrow  room,  with  a  large 
window  in  front,  and  four  on  the  side,  all  heavily  curtained. 
A  beautiful  Brussels  carpet  —  design,  a  large  bouquet  of  flow- 
prs,  a  rose,  surrounded  with  other  flowers  and  leaves,  with  a 
light  ground  —  covers  the  floor.     Two  centre-tables,  of  solid 


PLANS   OF   tup:   lion    HOUSE. 


15ASEMENT    STORY. 

East. 


N  .  U. 


Wearing 
Rotm. 
No.  lij. 


mu 


General  Cellar.     No.  14. 


i\ 


School  Room.     No.  'Jl,'. 


No.  21. 


Dining  Room.    No.  24. 


92  feet. 
West. 


PRINCIPAL  STORY, 

East. 


No.  10. 


Emily 
Partridge.  Uj„ 
No.  9, 


Bigelow. 
.Vo.  r. 


Clara  1); 
No.  0. 


Hall.     No.  !.■!. 


:w 


—1  EmeUne's  L 

Cobb.      I      No.  2. 
No.  -i-i 

West. 


No.  4. 


UPPER   STORY. 

East. 


No.  36. 


Eliza 
No.  35. 


^^ 


Susan 
Snively. 
No.  4S. 


Main  Han.    No.  49. 


Seeley. 
No.  41. 


Barney. 
No.  39. 


West. 


BRIGHAM  AS   LORD  OF  THE  HAREM.  201 

mahogany,  are  placed  at  equal  distances  from  the  ends  of  the 
room.  An  elegant  rose-wood  piano  sits  at  the  lower  end  of 
the  room.  Between  the  windows  hangs  a  large  mirror,  under 
which  is  a  melodeon.  A  large  sofa,  upholstered  with  dark 
crimson  velvet,  occupies  the  ojiposite  side,  and  near  this  is  a 
bureau,  with  silver  candlesticks  and  other  ornaments.  The 
chairs  are  painted  to  represent  mahogany,  and  gilded.  The 
room  iS/  painted  and  gilded  in  the  same  manner.  A  large 
stove  in  the  corner,  near  the  door,  completes  the  furniture  of 
the  drawing-room  of  the  Harem. 

The  family  meet  in  this  room,  every  morning  and  evening, 
at  the  ringing  of  the  bell,  to  attend  family  prayers.  The 
favorite  wives,  Emeline,  Lucy,  and  Clara  Decker,  receive 
their  company  in  the  parlor,  while  the  less  favored  ones  en- 
tertain theirs  in  their  rooms. 

There  are  said  to  be  underground  passages  from  Brigham's 
houses  to  Kimball's  on  the  north,  and  Wells's  on  the  south. 
Also  apartments  under  the  Lion  House,  where  he  secretes 
his  wealth  and  punishes  his  refractory  wives.  1  cannot  vouch 
for  the  truth  of  this  assertion,  but  give  it  as  a  rumor.  I  am 
credibly  informed,  however,  that  all  the  carpenters  and  ma- 
sons who  worked  on  the  lower  story  of  this  building  have 
disappeared. 

The  three  favorite  wives  before  named,  receive  and  en- 
tertain the  friends  of  the  Prophet,  who  visit  at  the  Lion 
House.  He  very  seldom  introduces  here  any  outside  the 
church.  Gentile  visitors  are  usually  entertained  at  the  Bee- 
Hive. 

No.  2  is  Emeline's  room,  just  back  of  the  drawing-room. 
She  formerly  occupied  No,  4,  but  was  removed  to  No.  2, 
because  Brigham,  in  going  to  her  room,  was  obliged  to  pass 
several  other  rooms,  thus  creating  remark  and  jealousy 
among  the  other  women.  He  therefore  had  a  hall.  No.  8, 
prepared,  leading  from  his  office  to  No.  2,  to  which  room  he 
removed  his  favorite  wife.  Here  he  formerly  spent  much  of 
his  time.    She  dressed  his  artificial  curls,  petted  and  caressed 


202  BRIGHAM  AS   LORD  OF  THE  HAREif. 

him,  and  worshipped  him  alternately  as  her  God.  The  fur- 
niture in  Emeline's  room  consists  of  a  thi'ce-ply  carpet,  mostly 
red,  a  high  post  bedstead,  with  white  and  red  curtains,  sofa, 
table,  chairs  painted  to  resemble  oak,  a  large  square  mirror, 
oil-shades,  wardrobe,  and  fireplace. 

No.  3.  Mrs.  Cobb  formerly  occupied  this  room,  but  now 
resides  in  a  neat  cottage  outside  the  walls.  A  three-ply  car- 
pet, red  tmd  yellow,  common  bedstead,  standing  in  a  recess, 
fall-leaf  table,  chairs  painted  oak,  oil-shades  with  white  cur- 
tains, a  small  mirror,  also  a  small  closet  and  a  fireplace,  con- 
stitute the  furniture  of  this  room.  This  was  the  home  of  a 
woman  who  had  lived  in  a  comfortable  and  commodious 
house  in  Boston,  as  its  mistress  and  head,  with  a  large  and 
interesting  family  around  her.  All  this  she  left  for  the  ridic- 
ulous delusion  called  Mormonisra.  To  what  extremes  will 
not  religious  fanaticism  and  mistaken  zeal  lead  its  devotees  ! 

No.  4  is  a  large,  plea-ant  room,  with  bedroom  attached. 
This  was  occupied  by  Clara  Chase  and  her  children,  before 
her  death.  She  was  once  a  favorite  with  Brigham,  which 
will  account  for  her  su[)erior  accommodations.  This  room  is 
furnished  as  follows :  a  carpet  similar  to  Emeline's,  common 
bedstead  placed  in  a  recess,  common  table,  nice  large  gilt 
mirror,  red  and  white  curtains,  wardrobe,  and  fireplace. 

No.  5.  This  room,  opposite  the  parlor,  belongs  to  Lucy 
Decker,  the  first  wife  in  plurality,  and  is  rather  plainly  fur- 
nished. Rag-carpet,  common  bedstead,  stand,  mirror,  oak 
chairs,  wardrobe,  small  cupboard  and  a  fireplace,  curtains  of 
the  prevailing  colors  red  and  white.  A  sitting-room  and  two 
bedrooms  are  allowed  IMrs.  Lucy  Decker,  as  she  has  a  num- 
ber of  children. 

No.  G.  In  Clara  Decker's  room  stands  a  beautifully  carved 
bedstead,  arched  overhead  with  heavy  damask  curtains, 
chairs  like  parlor,  stand,  settee,  Venetian  blinds,  and  oil- 
shades.  Brigham's  portrait  in  oil,  half  size,  hangs  on  tlie 
wall,  also  a  large  mirror.  A  rag-carpet  covers  the  floor.  A 
bedroom  and  recess  are  attached  to  this  room,  and  from  its 


BPJGHAM  AS  LORD  OF  THE  HAREM.      203 

Buperior  furniture  it  is  easy  to  infer  that  its  occupant  is  a 
woman  fond  of  show,  as  well  as  a  favorite  with  the  Prophet. 

No.  7.  Lucy  Bigelow's  room  contains  a  common  bedstead, 
three  chairs,  a  stand,  wardrobe,  carpet,  mirror,  and  white 
curtains. 

No.  8.  Hall  leading  to  Emeline's  room. 

No.  9.  Emily  Partridge,  one  of  the  "proxies,"  occupies 
this  room.  A  common  carpet,  calico  curtains,  a  fall-leaf 
table,  bedstead,  and  the  usual  quota  of  chairs,  make  up  the 
furniture  of  this  woman's  home. 

Formerly  a  tin  pail  and  tin  wash-dish  constituted  the  toilet 
set  of  most  of  the  wives,  but  since  the  Prophet  has  had  so 
many  fat  government  contracts,  and  his  purse  has  become 
plethoric  with  public  money,  and  from  the  continued  inflow 
of  tithing,  he  has  indulged  his  "  women  folks  "  with  crockery 
ware.  As  Uncle  Sam  is  rich,  and  a  good  easy-going  soul, 
why  should  he  not  furnish  "Harems"  for  his  "loyal  and  law- 
abiding  citizens  ?" 

No.  10  is  Aunt  Fanny  Murray's  room.  Her  furniture 
consists  of  a  red  and  yellow  carpet,  home-made  bedsteads, 
oak  chairs,  a  fall-leaf  table,  and  oil-shades.  A  sitting-room 
and  a  small  bedioom  belong  to  Aunt  Fanny.  But  you  ask, 
Who  is  Aunt  Fanny  ?  Slie  was  in  her  young  days,  Fanny 
Young,  and  had  a  great  awkward  brother,  called  Brigham. 
She  married  a  Mr.  Murray,  to  whom  she  was  devotedly 
attached.  She  was  a  gentle,  kind  creature ;  and  when  her 
husband  died,  she  became  dependent  on  her  brother.  She 
had  long  been  a  believer  in  Mormonism,  and  was  with  the 
Mormons  at  Nauvoo.  After  the  death  of  her  husband,  she 
was,'  by  the  earnest  persuasion  of  her  brother  Brigham,  in- 
duced to  be  sealed  to  another.  She  protested  at  the  time, 
and  said  it  would  break  her  heart.  And  in  relating  the  stoiy 
to  a  young  friend,  years  afterward,  — "  Bessie,"  said  she, 
"  my  poor,  poor  heart  is  breaking  now ; "  and  laying  her 
band  on  her  heart,  she  wept  aloud.  Aunt  Fanny  has  gone 
to  her  rest.     She  has  suffered  want  and  privation,  mental 


204:  BRIGHAM  AS  LORD  OF   THE  HAREM. 

anguish  and  bodily  pain,  for  her  religion.  Who  shall  say 
that  her  dear  heavenly  Father,  whom  she  so  blindly  wor- 
shipped, will  not  reward  her  with  a  crown  of  gloiy  in  His 
kingdom  above,  when  she  shall  rejoin  the  partner  of  her 
youth,  free  from  the  shackles  of  tyranny  and  superstition? 

Kos.  11  and  12  are  staircases. 

No.  13.  Main  Hall,  extending  the  whole  length  of  the 
building;  it  is  lighted  from  a  large  window  at  the  further  end. 

This  completes  the  principal  story  of  the  Lion  House. 

77ie  Basement  Slory.  —  No.  14.  General  cellar,  where  all 
kinds  of  vegetables  and  provisions  are  stored. 

No.  15.  Ash-house. 

No.  1(5.  AVeaving-room.  The  wives  spin,  color,  and  pre- 
pare the  yarn,  and  a  man  is  kept  employed  in  weaving.  A 
large  quantity  of  cloth  is  made  at  the  Harem  axery  year. 
Brigham's  motto  is,  "  No  drones  in  the  hive." 

No.  17  is  the  coachman's  room. 

No.  18.  Pantry.  Milk,  pies,  cake,  bread,  and  cooked  pro- 
visions, are  kept  in  this  place. 

No.  19.  Back  Hall. 

No.  20  was  formerly  occupied  as  a  school-room  and  dan- 
cing academy  for  the  Youngs. 

No.  21.  Wash-room. 

No.  22.  Kitchen. 

No.  23.  Dish-room. 

No.  24.  The  Dining-room  is  about  fifteen  by  forty  feet. 
Two  tables  extend  its  whole  length,  allowing  only  a  passage- 
way at  each  end.  A  third  table  extends  two  thirds  of  the 
length  of  the  room.  Also  a  side-table,  and  chairs  of  different 
sizes,  to  accommodate  the  various  ages  of  the  family  group. 

Each  wife  has  her  seat  at  the  fable,  jmd  her  children  sit 
with  her.  The  wives  who  have  children  are  seated  at  the 
heads  of  the  tables  in  the  order  in  which  they  came  into  the 
family,  —  they  taking  the  preference  over  those  who  have 
no  children.  This  is  the  case  in  every  well-regulated  Mor- 
mon family.     Among  Mormons,  the  title  of  mother  includes 


BKIGHAM'AS  LORD  OF  THE  HAREM.  205 

that  of  queen,  and  is  consequently  the  highest  distinction  ia 
woman  can  attain.  If  a  woman  has  no  children,  she  is  mis- 
erable, and  hei'  position  in  society  a  very  unpleasant  one.  She 
can  only  redeem  herself  by  urging  her  husband  to  take  more 
wives.  Many  women  do  this,  and  afterward  labor  incessantly 
for  the  new  mistresses  and  their  children. 

Lucy  Decker,  the  first  "  plurality "  woman,  presides  at 
one  of  the  long  tables.  At  the  head  of  the  short  table.  Brig- 
ham  always  presides,  when  he  takes  his  meals  at  the  Harem. 
On  his  right  sits  Clara  Decker,  with  her  children,  and  on  the 
left,  Emeline,  with  hers.  This  order  is  strictly  observed. 
This  preference  causes  much  unhappiness  on  the  part  of 
other  wives  less  favored. 

No.  25.  Main  HaU. 

Nos.  26  and  27  are  staircases. 

No.  28.  Small  side  Hall. 

Third  Story.  —  This  floor  is  divided  in  the  centre  by  a 
wide  hall,  and  ranged  on  either  side  are  ten  small  rooms,  of 
nearly  uniform  size,  with  one  door  and  window  each.  These 
rooms  ai'e  about  twelve  by  fifteen  feet,  and  are  occupied 
principally  by  those  of  "  the  women  "  who  have  no  children. 
The  windows  are  of  the  Gothic  style. 

No.  29  is  occupied  by  "  Twiss,"  and  has  a  carpet,  common 
bedstead,  three  oak  chairs,  a  little  toilet-stand,  small  mirror, 
and  plain  white  curtains. 

All  these  rooms  are  similarly  furnished.  All  are  neat  and 
clean.  Harriet  Cook,  Ellen  Rockwood,  and  Twiss,  display 
more  taste  than  the  others  in  the  arrangement  of  their  little 
cages. 

In  addition  to  these  articles,  Harriet  Cook  has  mahogany 
chairs,  instead  of  oak,  and  a  large  cupboai'd,  painted  to  rep- 
resent mahogany.  All  the  rooms  are  furnished  with  stoves, 
except  three,  which  have  fireplaces. 

No  books,  except  the  Book  of  Mormon,  Book  of  Doctrine 
and  Covenants,  and  Mormon  Hymn-Book,  will  be  seen  in 
any  room  except  Eliza  Snow's ;  she  being  a  woman  of  con- 


20G  BRIGHAM  AS  LORD  OF  THE  HAREM. 

siderable  literary  taste,  and  withal  a  writer,  —  having  made 
a  number  of  contributions  to  Mormon  literature,  —  her  room 
is  indicative  of  the  same,  being  well  supplied  with  books  and 
papers. 

What  the  Women  do. 

The  internal  arrangement  of  affairs  at  the  Harem  is  very 
similar  to  that  of  a  young  ladies'  boardmg-school.  Each 
woman  having  her  own  room,  her  affairs  are  all  centred 
there.  The  culinary  department  is  under  the  control  of  such 
of  the  wives  as  Brigham  from  time  to  time  appoints.  She 
is  the  stewardess,  and  carries  the  keys.  A  cook  is  employed, 
—  generally  a  man,  —  and  several  servants  besides,  who  are 
all  under  the  control  of  the  stewardess. 

When  the  meals  are  prepared  and  ready,  the  bell  rings, 
and  each  woman,  with  her  children,  if  she  have  any,  files 
down  to  the  dinner-table,  and  is  seated  as  before  stated. 

Each,  on  rising,  has  her  children  to  attend  to,  and  get 
ready  for  breakfast ;  this  over,  she  commences  the  business 
of  the  day,  arranges  her  rooms,  and  sits  down  to  her  sewing 
or  other  work,  as  the  case  may  be. 

A  sewing-machine  is  brought  into  requisition,  and  one  of 
the  number  appointed  to  use  it.  For  the  benefit  of  those 
who  want  a  sewing-machine,  it  may  be  well  to  state  how 
this  one  was  procured.  One  day  a  man  from  St.  Louis 
came  to  offer  one  for  sale,  stating  that  his  price  was  ninety 
dollars.  Brigham  bought  it,  promising  to  pay  the  man 
whenever  he  should  call.  He  being  poor,  called  in  a  few 
days.  lie  did  not  get  his  pay.  He  called  again,  a  number 
of  times,  with  the  same  result.  One  of  the  wives  became 
quite  indignant,  and  said,  —  "If  I  was  in  his  place,  I  never 
would  ask  it  from  one  so  high  in  the  priesthood.  He  had 
better  give  it  to  him  than  to  ask  pay  of  him."  The  poor 
man  never  received  his  money,  and  as  soon  as  he  could  get 
tlie  means,  left  the  Territory.  This  is  the  manner  in  which' 
the  Prophet  becomes  possessed  of  much  of  his  property. 


BRIGHAM  AS  LORD  OF  THE  HAREM.  207 

Most  of  the  women  spin  and  make  their  every-clay  cloth- 
ing, doing  their  own  coloring.  They  are  quite  proud  of  the 
quantity  of  cloth  manufactured  in  their  establishment  every 
year.  All  work  hard,  and  take  but  very  little  out-of-door 
exercise.  Parties  and  the  theatre  are  the  favorite  amuse- 
ments. At  the  theatre,  Brigham  and  one  or  two  of  the  fa- 
vored wives  sit  together  in  "  the  King's  box,"  but  the  remain- 
der of  tlie  women  and  the  children  sit  in  what  is  called  "  Brig- 
ham's  corral."  This  is  in  the  parquette,  about  the  centre  of 
the  area.  The  Prophet  goes  down  once  or  twice  during  the 
evening  to  the  corral,  and  chats  for  a  few  moments  with  one 
and  another,  but  in  a  short  time  he  can  be  seen  beside  his 
"  dear  Amelia  "  again. 

At  the  Mormon  parties,  much  gayety  prevails.  Appear- 
ances are  maintained,  somewhat,  by  paying  more  respectful 
deference  to  the  first  wives,  on  such  occasions.  Gentiles, 
with  whom  the  saints  are  on  good  terms,  are  well  received 
and  kindly  entertained  at  these  parties,  and  all  join  in  giving 
themselves  up  to  the  influences  of  mirth  and  festivity.  Danc- 
ing is  not  only  a  favorite  amusement,  it  is  more ;  it  is  culti- 
vated to  such  an  extent  that  it  becomes  a  passion. 

Brigham's  women,  though  better  clothed  than  formerly, 
still  work  very  hard.  They  are  infatuated  with  their  relig- 
ion, and  devoted  to  their  husband.  If  they  cannot  obtain 
his  love,  they  content  themselves  with  his  kindness,  and 
endeavor  to  think  themselves  happy.  As  religion  is  their 
only  solace,  they  try  to  make  it  their  only  object.  If  it  does 
not  elevate  their  minds,  it  deadens  their  susceptibilities,  and 
as  they  are  not  permitted  to  be  women,  they  try  to  convince 
themselves  that  it  is  God's  will  they  should  be  slaves. 

A  music-master,  a  dancing-master,  and  a  teacher  of  the 
ordinary  branches  of  an  English  education,  are  employed  in 
the  family  school.  Also  a  teacher  of  French.  His  children 
have  much  better  advantages  than  any  other  in  the  Territory. 
Dancing  and  music  are  the  leading  accomplishments,  and 
5verythiiig  else  is  made  subordinate  to  these. 


208  BRIGHAM  AS  LORD  OF  THE  HAREM. 

Brigham  at  Home. 

Much  interest  naturally  attaches  to  the  inner  life  of  such  a 
man  as  Brigham  Young.  His  time  is  much  occupied.  He 
rises  early,  calls  the  whole  family  together ;  they  sing  a 
hymn ;  he  prays  fervently,  and  they  separate  for  the  duties 
of  the  day.  In  past  times,  he  ate  at  the  Harem,  His  fare 
is  very  simple,  usually  consisting  of  a  bowl  of  milk,  covered 
with  cream,  and  dry  toast  or  bread. 

His  next  duty  used  to  be,  to  "  see  the  women  folks,"  to 
whom  he  was  friendly  and  kind,  but  no  more.  He  is  not 
Brigham  the  husband,  but  Brigham  the  Prophet  and  Seer. 
The  women  fear  and  reverence  him  as  their  God,  watch  his 
countenance  as  he  gives  them  counsel,  and  look  upon  every 
word  he  utters  as  the  "  key  "  to  some  great  mystery.  He 
pays  mucli  less  attention  to  them  now  than  formerly,  but  is 
kind  and  considerate  in  his  conduct  toward  them. 

This  duty  done,  he  next  proceeds  to  his  oflSce,  to  receive 
his  visitors,  and  to  transact  any  business  that  may  be  there 
awaiting  his  attention.  His  counsel  is  sought  upon  all  sub- 
jects, even  in  the  minutest  domestic  affairs  of  the  people. 
So  numerous  are  these  applications  for  advice  and  assistance, 
that  many  are  turned  away  with  a  very  brief  answer,  while 
some  are  denied  access  entirely. 

Theoretically,  no  one  but  he  can  "  seal "  or  give  plural 
w^ives  in  marriage,  and  such  at  first  was  the  prat-tice.  But 
in  later  years,  this  power  has  been  delegated  to  Kimball  and 
others,  and  to  the  Bishops  of  distant  wards.  The  divorces 
of  such  can  only  come  from  him  ;  and  from  this  source  alone 
he  derives  a  handsome  revenue.  He  once  said  from  the  pul- 
pit to  the  people,  that  "  the  divorce  money  which  he  received 
through  tlieir  d — d  foolery,  furnished  him  with  plenty  of 
spending  money." 

No  speculations  are  entered  upon,  no  enterprises  begun, 
without  consulting  "  Brother  Brigham."  Tliis  he  encourages 
and  commands.     "  If  you  do  not  know  what  to  do,  in  order 


BRIGHAM  AS  LORD  OF  THE  HAREM.  209 

to  do  right,  come  to  me  at  any  time,  and  I  will  give  you, the 
word  of  the  Lord  on  the  subject." 

This  mode  of  directing  the  people,  though  laborious  and 
perplexing,  has  its  advantages.  Their  secret  thoughts  and 
plans  are  thus  laid  open  to  his  view,  and  facts  are  sometimes 
brought  to  his  knowledge  very  important  and  essential  to  be 
known,  having  a  direct  bearing  upon  the  permanent  mainte- 
nance of  his  rule  and  authority.  The  people,  too,  by  such 
frequent  consultations,  are  led  to  believe  that  their  prosper- 
ity, happiness,  and  safety,  are  all  dependent  upon  the  favor 
and  assistance  of  their  leader.  If  any  one  becomes  contu- 
macious and  troublesome,  he  has  the  earliest  information  of 
the  fact,  and  soon  devises  means  to  be  rid  of  the  annoyance. 

It  is  a  common  expression  among  the  people  at  Salt  Lake, 
"  "When  I  obey  counsel,  I  am  prospered  in  everything ;  when 
I  neglect  it,  I  prosper  in  notliing." 

Years  ago,  Brigham  was  kind  and  fatherly  toward  his 
followers.  If  he  met  one  of  them  in  the  street,  he  gave  him 
a  cordial  greeting  and  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hand,  with  an 
inquiry  concerning  his  family  and  prospects.  But  of  late, 
the  Prophet,  having  become  rich,  has  grown  haughty  and 
proud,  and  as  he  rides  along  in  his  fine  carriage,  surrounded 
by  his  courtiers  and  sycophants,  the  toiling,  hard-handed 
brethren,  who  receive  no  friendly  recognition,  sometimes 
shake  their  heads  and  mutter  sentiments  strangely  discord- 
ant with  those  generally  expressed  in  conversation. 

The  feeling  of  dissatisfaction  at  the  distance  placed  by  the 
Prophet  between  himself  and  his  followers,  has  grown,  as 
that  distance  became  more  perceptible,  until  it  has  become 
quite  universal  among  the  poorer  classes.  The  poverty- 
stricken  saint,  as  he  takes  home  upon  his  back  or  his  wheel- 
barrow a  sack  of  flour,  or  piece  of  meat,  obtained  with  diflH- 
culty  by  his  daily  toil,  beholds  his  Prophet,  his  spiritual 
guide,  clothed  in  fine  raiment,  seated  in  a  splendid  carriage, 
by  his  side  a  courtesan,  a  so-called  wife.  He  sees  the  smile 
and  kind  word,  which  should  be  given  to  his  suffering  and 
14 


210      BRIGHAM  AS  LORD  OF  THE  HAREM. 

down-trodden  people,  lavished  upon  a  liarlot.  lie  turns  in 
disgust,  and  with  a  weary  and  troubled  spirit,  seeks  tempo- 
rary rest  in  his  own  liumble  home.  Here  kind  poverty  has 
protected  him  from  the  vices  of  his  leaders,  and  he  thanks 
God  inwardly,  after  all,  that  he  has  not  yet  abandoned  the 
wife  of  his  youth.  To  such,  the  new  preachers  sent  by  the 
"  Josephites,"  to  bring  tlie  people  back  to  virtue,  to  loyalty, 
and  to  the  original  Mormon  religion,  appear  as  angels  from 
heaven,  and  hence  the  ready  assent  given  to  their  teachings, 
and  the  rapid  defection  from  the  established  church. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  WIVES  OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG. 

Mary  Ann  Angell  Young,  the  first  -wife. — Her  Family.  —  Lucy  Decker 
Seely,  the  first  wife  in  Plurality.  —  Slore  of  "  My  Women  "  :  Clara 
Decker,  Harriet  Cook,  Lucy  Bigelow,  Twiss,  Martha  Bowker,  Harriet 
Barney,  Eliza  Burgess,  Ellen  Rockwood,  Susan  Snively,  Jemima  An- 
gell, Margaret  Alley,  Margaret  Pierce,  Mrs.  Hampton,  Mary  Bigelow, 
Emeline  Free,  or  the  Light  of  the  Harem. — Proxy  Women :  Miss  Eliza 
Eoxy  Snow,  Zina  D.  Huntington,  Amelia  Partridge,  Mrs.  Cobb,  Mrs. 
Smith,  Clara  Chase,  the  Maniac.  —  Amelia,  the  last  love.  —  The  Prophet 
in  Love  the  Thirtieth  Time. 

Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Angell  Toung. 

This  lady  is  the  first  living  and  legal  wife  of  the  Prophet. 
She  is  a  native  of  New  York,  and  is  a  fine-looking,  intelligent 
woman.  She  is  large,  portly,  and  dignified.  Her  hair  is 
well  sprinkled  with  the  frosts  of  age ;  her  clear,  hazel  eyes 
and  melancholy  countenance  indicate  a  soul  where  sorrow 
reigns  supreme.  She  has  been  very  much  attached  to  her 
husband,  and  his  infidelity  has  made  deep  im-oads  upon  her 
mind.  Her  deep-seated  melancholy  often  produces  flights  of 
insanity,  vrhich  increase  with  her  declining  years. 

Bereft  of  her  husband's  society,  she  naturally  clings  to  her 
children,  of  whom  she  has  five :  Joseph,  Brigham  A.,  John, 
Alice,  and  Luna.  They  all  reside  with  her.  She  formerly 
occupied  "  the  Bee-Hive  House,"  but  as  the  number  of  her 
husband's  wives  increased,  it  became  necessary  that  additional 
accommodations  should  be  furnished  the  "plural"  portion  of 
the  family.  The  first  wife  was  obliged  to  vacate  her  resi- 
dence for  the  benefit  of  new  comers.  She  was  removed  to 
a  great  barn-like  house  on  the  hill.    This  building  looks  more 


212  THE  WIVES   OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG. 

like  a  penitentiary  than  anything  else.  It  was  the  first  house 
built  upon  the  premises,  and,  as  before  stated,  is  very  deficient 
in  the  number  and  size  of  its  windows. 

Mrs.  Young  seldom  receives  guests,  and  her  husband  him- 
self scarcely  ever  pays  her  a  visit. 

When  I  looked  upon  this  poor,  suffering  woman,  as  she 
sat  at  church,  surrounded  by  her  husband's  mistresses,  I 
seemed  for  the  first  time  fully  to  realize  the  true  character 
of  that  "  institution  "  which  has  crushed  the  hearts  of  many 
noble  women. 

She  is  very  kind  to  her  children  and  dependents,  and  is 
much  beloved  by  them.  She  has  not  succeeded  so  well  in 
gaining  the  affection  of  "  the  wives."  With  them  she  is  very 
unpopular,  and  by  some  of  them  she  is  often  mocked  and  up- 
braided. It  is  said,  "one  hates  whom  he  has  injured."  This 
may  account  for  much  of  this  feeling  among  the  "  plurals." 

Joseph,  or  "  Joe  Young,"  as  he  is  familiarly  known  itc 
Utah,  is  a  fast  young  man.  He  has  been  on  a  "  mission," 
travelled  in  Europe,  smokes,  chews,  gets  drunk,  swears, 
preaches  the  gospel,  has  three  wives  whom  he  whips  and 
otherwise  shamefully  abuses,  and  is  a  good  Mormon,  in  full 
fellowship  in  the  church.  While  at  a  fashionable  watering- 
place,  at  Great  Salt  Lake,  in  the  summer  of  1863,  he  insulted 
a  gentile  lady.  The  gentleman  wlio  accompanied  her,  being 
an  officer,  promptly  knocked  him  down,  and  this  not  seeming 
to  be  satisfactory,  afterwards  challenged  him.  Joseph's  friends 
interfered,  and  obtained  a  settlement  of  the  difficulty. 

Brighara  A.  is  more  respectable.  He  has  also  been  on  a 
"  mission."  This  is  equivalent  to  saying  that  he  has  been 
wild  and  reckless,  as  it  is  the  Mormon  custom  to  send  all 
who  are  unruly  and  hard  to  manage,  or  who  have  committed 
crimes,  on  a  mission.  It  is  thought  that  by  "  bearing  the 
{)ure  vessels  of  the  Lord  "  to  such  poor  wicked  wi-etches  as 
the  gentiles,  they  will  perchance  themselves  become  purified. 

John,  being  the  youngest,  has  not  developed  his  tastes  so 
fully.     He  seems  inclined  to  seek  after  the  loaves  and  fishes 


THE  WIVES   OF   BPJGHAM   YOUNG.  213 

of  office.  He  was  Sergeant-at-Arms  of  the  Council  in  the 
winter  of  1863-64,  and  will  doubtless  be  one  of  its  members 
when  he  is  old  enough,  should  his  father  then  reign  in  Utah. 

Mrs.  Alice  Clawson  is  the  oldest  daughter.  Rather  amia- 
ble, with  fair  hair,  blue  eyes,  and  of  petite  stature.  She  is 
one  of  the  performers  in  her  father's  theati'e.  As  an  artiste 
she  is  "  flat,  stale,  and  unprofitable."  But  being  Brigham's 
daughter,  and  good  looking,  she  is. applauded  to  the  echo. 
She  is  one  of  three  wives  of  Hiram  B.  Clawson,  who  is  the 
Prophet's  chief  business  agent  and  manager.  Quick,  shrewd, 
and  unscrupulous,  he  is  a  fit  instrument  with  which  to  accom- 
plish the  purposes  of  such  a  man. 

In  the  year  1851,  a  Mr.  Tobin  came  to  Salt  Lake  with 
Capt.  Stansbury.  While  there,  he  met  Miss  Alice,  fell  in 
love  with  her,  and  they  were  engaged  to  be  married.  Mr. 
T.  had  occasion  to  leave  Salt  Lake  on  business,  and  did  not 
return  until  1856.  He  then  renewed  his  engagement  with 
Alice,  but  afterward,  for  reasons  satisfactory  to  himself,  broke 
it.  This  subjected  him  to  the  vengeance  of  her  father,  which 
never  slumbers.  Tobin  and  his  party  were  followed,  attacked 
in  the  night,  on  Santa  Clara  River,  370  miles  south  of  Salt 
Lake  City.  Several  of  the  party  were  severely  wounded. 
They  lost  six  horses,  and  were  compelled  to  abandon  their 
baggage,  which  was  completely  riddled  by  bullets.  During 
Tobin's  absence,  Alice  had  been  engaged  to  another,  who 
had  been  sent  oflf  to  the  Sandwich  Islands,  by  her  watchful 
father.  Hiram  B.  Clawson,  the  confidential  clerk  of  the 
President,  next  appeared  as  a  candidate  for  the  young  lady's 
hand.  He  had  already  one  wife,  but  was  anxious  to  secure 
a  second. 

A  little  incident  in  their  courtship,  will  illustrate  the  man- 
ner of  obtaining  No.  2. 

"  Good-morning,  sister  Clawson"  said  a  young  friend 
whom  she  met  in  walking. 

"  What  do  you  wish  me  to  understand  ?  "  said  Alice. 

"Nothing  more  than  that  your  father  gave  his  consent 


21-4  THE  WIVES   OF   liRIGHAM  YOUNG. 

this  morning,  in  my  presence,  to  your  marriage  with  Hiram 
Clawson." 

"  There,  Alice,"  said  brother  Clawson,  who  at  this  moment 
made  his  appearance,  "  did  I  not  tell  you  ?  You  would  not 
believe  me." 

"  This  matter  begins  to  be  serious,"  said  Alice,  "  now  that 
my  father  has  given  me  away  to  a  man  that  has  one  wife 
already,  and  is  courting  another  beside  me,  both  of  them 
much  handsomer  than  I  am." 

Hiram  was  nettled,  for  it  was  true  that  he  was  courting  a 
third  wife,  and  of  the  three  Alice  was  the  least  beautiful. 
She  then  proposed,  playfully,  to  elope  with  an  old  gentleman, 
a  friend  of  the  family.  "  I  would  do  so,"  she  said,  "  before  I 
would  be  given  away  like  an  old  mule,  to  a  man  who  already 
has  one  wife,  and  is  seeking  for  others." 

Yet  Alice,  though  doubtless  giving  expression  at  this  time 
to  the  sentiments  of  her  heart,  was  aft-erwai'd  prevailed  upon, 
and  consented  to  become  No.  2  in  the  harem  of  Hiram  B. 
Clawson.  Hiram,  having  commenced  at  a  much  earlier  age 
than  his  father-in-law,  may,  if  unchecked  in  his  career,  yet 
rival  him  in  the  number  of  his  wives  and  the  extent  and 
magnificence  of  his  "  plural "  establishment. 

Luna  Young  is  a  character.  She  is  very  wilful  and  head- 
strong. She  always  governed  her  sister  Alice,  and  even  her 
father  could  not  control  this  wayward  child. 

She  is  the  fourth  daughter,  by  the  first  wife,  two  having 
died.  She  has  light  hair,  blue  eyes,  and  a  fair  complexion. 
She  is  very  haughty  and  beautiful.  Slender  as  the  gazelle, 
and  free  and  joyous  as  a  bird,  brooking  no  control,  she  was 
the  light,  and  often  the  annoyance  of  her  father's  house  in 
her  girlish  days.  She  is  now  married,  and  very  likely  will 
become  amiable  and  docile,  under  Mormon  discipline. 

L^lcy  Decher  Seely. 

This  is  the  first  wife  in  "  plurality,"  —  or  the  second 
"  woman." 


THE  WIVES   OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG.  215 

Lucy  Decker  was  married  to  Isaac  Seely,  and  bad  two 
children.  She  afterward  became  a  Mormon,  and  went  to 
Nauvoo  to  reside.  Her  husband,  Seely,  was  somewhat  dis- 
sipated, but  treated  her  well.  She,  however,  saw  Brother 
Brigham,  and  loved  him.  He  visited  her,  told  her  that 
Seely  could  never  give  her  an  "  exaltation  "  in  the  eternal 
world ;  that  he,  being  "  high  in  the  priesthood,"  could  make 
her  a  queen,  in  the  first  resurrection. 

She  yielded  to  these  inducements  and  the  promptings  of 
her  inclination,  left  her  husband,  and  was  "  sealed  "  to  Brig- 
ham  Young. 

Lucy  Decker  has  brown  hair,  dark  eyes,  small  features,  a 
fair  skin,  and  of  short  stature ;  but  quite  en  hon  point.  She 
would  strongly  remind  you  of  a  New-England  housewife, 
"  fat,  fair,  and  forty."  In  common  with  nearly  all  the  inmates 
of  the  Harem,  she  is  of  very  ordinary  intellect,  and  limited 
education. 

Her  first  child,  after  marrying  Young,  was  named  Brig- 
ham  Heber,  and  was  the  first-born  in  Mormon  polygamy. 
He  is  now  a  lad  of  about  eighteen  years  of  age. 

Lucy  Decker  is  still  one  of  the  favorite  wives.  She  lives 
in  the  "  Bee-Hive,"  and  keeps  a  sort  of  boarding-house  for 
the  work-hands.  She  has  had  eight  children  by  Brigham, 
all  of  whom  are  living.  A  story  is  told  which  illustrates 
well  the  disposition  and  character  of  these  polygamous  chil- 
dren. "  Brigham  Heber  "  was  in  the  habit  of  playing  while 
the  family  were  at  breakfast.  One  morning,  after  breakfast 
was  over,  this  boy,  then  only  ten  or  twelve  years  of  age, 
went  into  the  kitchen,  and  undertook  to  help  himself  to  any- 
thing he  could  find.  Mr.  Smith,  the  cook,  would  not  permit 
it.  Brigham  Heber  seized  a  fork,  and  with  oaths  that  would 
put  a  pirate  to  shame,  swore  he  would  stab  the  cook.  Smith 
caught  him,  wrenched  the  fork  from  his  hand,  and  pushed 
him  into  the  hall.  He  and  Oscar,  son  of  Harriet  Cook, 
swore  they  would  kill  Smith  the  first  time  they  should  catch 
iiim  out. 


216  THE  WIVES  OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG. 

3fore  of  "  My  Women." 

Clara  Decker^  sister  of  Lucy  Decker,  is  a  short,  tliick-set 
person,  very  much  like  Lucy  in  appearance.  She  is  much 
more  intelligent  and  agreeable  than  her  sister,  and  in  every 
way  her  superior. 

She  is  also  quite  a  favorite  with  the  Prophet ;  has  three  or 
four  children,  and  is  much  attached  to  her  "  husband." 

Harriet  Cook  was  early  in  plurality ;  having  been  sealed 
to  Brigham,  at  "  Winter  Quartei-s,"  on  the  Missouri  River, 
while  the  Mormons  were  on  their  way  to  Utah.  This  was 
five  years  before  polygamy  was  publicly  proclaimed  in  Utah 
as  a  divine  institution.  Harriet  is  very  tall,  has  light  hair, 
blue  eyes,  a  fair  complexion,  and  sharp  nose.  She  is  rather 
slender,  but  has  much  power  of  endurance,  and  a  look  of  de- 
termination. 

AVhen  all  is  going  on  smoothly,  she  is  as  calm  and  serene 
as  a  May  morning ;  but  let  Brigham  or  any  one  else  in  the 
establishment  cross  her  path,  and  the  blue  eyes  at  once  light 
up,  and  give  evidence  of  a  coming  storm.  When  irritated 
and  aroused,  she  denounces  the  whole  Mormon  religion,  in- 
cluding polygamy,  and  says,  "  the  whole  thing  is  a  humbug, 
and  may  go  to  the  devil  for  aught  she  cares."  Brigham, 
though  a  stern  disciplinarian,  makes  good  his  escape,  at 
such  times,  and  the  "  women "  all  keep  at  a  respectful  dis- 
tance. 

When  she  is  in  a  religious  mood,  which  is  seldom  the 
case,  she  says  :  "  I  don't  profess  to  know  much,  but  there  is 
one  thing  I  do  understand,  and  that  is  Mormonism.  When- 
ever Brother  Brigham  (all  the  wives  call  him  Brother)  goes 
behind  the  veil,  I  make  him  tell  me  what  he  sees  and  hears 
there.  I  mean  to  know  all  about  it."  She  is  the  "  smartest " 
of  all  the  women.  She  has  one  son  in  plurality,  named 
Oscar.  He  is  a  wild,  ugly  boy,  and  curses  his  mother  ad 
libitum.  Brigham  cares  nothing  for  this  woman,  and  avoids 
her  as  much  as  possible. 


THE  Wn^ES   OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG.  217 

Lucy  Bigelow  is  of  middling  stature,  has  dark  brown  hair, 
blue  eyes,  aquiline  nose,  and  a  pretty  mouth,  and  is  very 
pleasant  and  affable.  She  is  very  pretty  and  ladylike  in  the 
ball-room,  but  does  not  appear  to  so  good  advantage  in  the 
nursery  and  kitchen.  She  is  the  one  who  was  the  subject 
of  a  well-turned  repartee  at  the  anniversary  ball  in  Salt 
Lake  City,  on  the  24th  of  July,  1863.  Governor  Harding, 
on  that  occasion,  having  danced  with  several  of  the  wives  of 
"  Governor "  Young,  became  somewhat  enthusiastic  and  ex- 
travagant in  his  compliments.  Among  other  fine  sayings,  he 
remarked  to  one  of  the  wives,  upon  leading  her  on  to  the 
floor,  —  "  The  President  has  introduced  several  of  his  wives 
to  me  as  '  Mrs.  Young,' '  Mrs.  Young,' '  Mrs.  Young.'  As  well 
might  the  astronomer  point  me  to  the  stars  of  heaven,  with- 
out giving  me  their  names."  "  Governor,  I  understand 
your  compliment,  and  appreciate  it.  The  name  of  this  par- 
ticular star  is  Lucy." 

She  has  but  little  influence  over  Brighara,  and  he  seldom 
visits  her. 

Tioiss  has  sandy  hair,  inclined  to  curl,  round  features, 
blue  eyes,  low  forehead,  complexion  fair,  face  somewhat 
freckled.  She  is  short  and  stout.  This  woman  makes  a 
good  servant,  and  is  always  ready  to  wait  on  her  lord  and 
master.  She  prepares  his  linen,  and  is  content.  She  has  no 
children. 

Martha  BowTcer  is  low  in  stature,  with  black  hair  and  eyes. 
She  is  very  quiet.  Is  plain  and  sensible ;  neither  showy  nor 
interesting.  Very  neat  in  dress,  very  ordinary  in  intellect 
and  acquirements.  She  is  of  few  words,  and  rather  quick- 
tempered.    Very  little  influence  over  the  Prophet. 

Harriet  Barney.  —  This  lady  is  tall,  slender,  ajid  graceful. 
She  has  hazel  eyes,  light-brown  hair,  mild,  sweet  expression 
of  countenance,  and  is  indeed  a  beautiful  woman.  Her  char- 
acter is  as  lovely  as  her  face,  and  the  suffering  and  sorrowing 
always  find  a  friend  in  her.  She  is  patient  and  forbearing, 
and  would  rather  suffer  wrong  than  do  wrons.     Her  kind 


218  THE  WIVES  OF  BEIGHAM   YOUNG. 

and  sympathetic  nature,  and  excellent  character,  place  her 
far  above  all  the  other  inmates  of  the  Harem. 

Believing  in  polygamy,  she  left  her  husband,  and  became 
one  of  the  plural  wives  of  the  President  of  the  church  in 
which  she  believed.  She  loves,  with  all  the  intensity  of  her 
nature,  him  for  whom  she  has  sacrificed  everything.  Of 
course,  she  deeply  feels  his  neglect,  but,  like  a  true  woman, 
complains  not.  Having  sacrificed  her  happiness  upon  the  altar 
of  her  faith,  she  continues  to  love,  to  endure,  and  to  suffer. 

She  had  three  children  by  her  first  husband  ;  none  since. 

Eliza  Bui-gess.  —  Her  parents  resided  in  Manchester 
England,  and  came  to  Nauvoo  in  the  early  days  of  Mormon- 
ism.  Soon  after,  they  both  died,  leaving  Eliza  an  orphan. 
She  was  thrown  upon  the  cold  charities  of  the  world,  and 
Brother  Brigliam,  ever  the  friend  of  youth  and  heaufy,  took 
her  into  his  family.  She  served  seven  years,  and  then  de- 
sired to  marry  another.  She  applied  to  Young  for  his  con- 
sent, but  the  Prophet  had  other  projects  inconsistent  in  their 
nature  with  the  proposed  marriage.  "  Eliza,"  he  said,  "  you 
have  been  so  long  in  the  family,  that  I  need  you.  I  wish  to 
marry  you  myself  Will  you  not  be  my  wife  ?  Brother  S. 
is  a  very  good  man,  but  I  can  give  you  a  greater  exaltation. 
I  can  make  you  a  queen."  This  argument  was  conclusive, 
and  Eliza  gave  up  her  lover,  and  married  Brigham  Young. 

In  person  Eliza  is  small,  with  large  dark  eyes,  dark  hair, 
and  dark  complexion.  She  is  quick-tempered,  and  is  of  the 
class  —  English  serving-girl.  She  is  the  only  one  of  the 
Prophet's  women  who  is  not  American.  She  has  several 
childi'cn. 

Ellen  Rochwood  is  of  medium  size,  slender,  with  light 
hair,  lightJbrown  eyes,  and  fair  complexion.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  the  warden  of  the  penitentiary,  who  is  a  "  regu- 
lar down-east  Yankee."  Ellen  is  rather  quiet,  even-tempered, 
but  quite  narrow-minded.  Her  health  is  poor,  and  she  spends 
most  of  her  time  in  embroidery  and  needle-work.  She  has 
no  children,  and,  per  consequence,  very  little  influence  with 


THE  WIVES   OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG.  219 

her  husband.  He  calls  upon  her  in  hei'  little  room,  about 
once  in  six  months. 

Susan  Snively.  —  A  middle-aged  woman,  of  medium  size, 
dark  hair,  light  eves,  dark  complexion,  and  expressionless 
face ;  the  plainest  of  all  the  women.  She  is  good  and  kind 
in  her  nature,  quiet  and  retiring.  She  spins  and  colors  yarn, 
and  is  a  good  housewife,  of  the  type  —  New-England  farmer's 
wife.  Having  no  children,  she  adds  nothing  to  the  kingdom 
and  glory  of  her  husband,  and  is  estimated  accordingly. 

Jemima  Angell  is  the  sister  of  Mary  Ann,  the  lawful 
wife.  She  is  an  elderly  lady,  with  dark  hair,  gray  eyes,  and 
pensive  countenance.  Of  low  stature,  but  quite  robust.  Her 
first  husband  died  out  of  the  church,  and  she  is  merely  sealed 
to  Young,  for  her  exaltation  in  another  state.  She  lives  in 
a  little  house  by  herself,  and  seldom  receives  a  visit  from 
her  spiritual  husband. 

Margaret  Alley.  —  Short  and  small ;  light  hair  and  eyes, 
rather  lengthened  features,  but  mild  expression  of  counte- 
nance. Being  much  neglected  by  her  husband,  she  became 
very  melancholy.     She  died  in  1853,  leaving  two  chikh-en. 

Margaret  Pierce.  —  Of  medium  height,  light  hair,  and 
blue  eyes,  sharp  nose,  and  veiy  variable  in  temper.  She 
has  several  children,  but  not  much  influence  with  her  hus- 
band. 

Mrs.  Hampton.  —  This  woman  is  very  tall,  and  noble  in 
appearance,  has  round  features,  large  lustrous  eyes,  dark 
hair,  and  fair  complexion.  She  was  early  married  to  Mr. 
Hampton,  by  whom  she  had  six  children.  They  removed  to 
Nauvoo,  where  Hampton  died.  Mrs.  Hampton  was  after- 
ward sealed  to  Young. 

When  the  Mormons  were  driven  from  Nauvoo,  Mrs. 
Hampton  was,  for  some  reason,  left  behind.  She  then  mar- 
ried a  Mr.  Cole,  by  whom  she  had  one  daughter,  named  Vi- 
late.  When  this  child  was  about  four  years  old,  Cole  went 
\o  California.  Young  then  sent  for  Mrs.  Hampton  to  come 
and  live  with  him.     She  obeyed,  and  became,  a  second  time, 


220  THE  "WIVES  OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG. 

one  of  his  plural  wives.  During  this  time  Cole  wrote  letters 
frequently,  and  sent  her  his  likeness. 

About  this  time,  Feramorz  Little,  one  of  Young's  nephews, 
man-ied  Julia  Hampton,  daughter  of  Mrs.  H.,  and  half  sister 
to  Vilate  Cole.  Mrs.  Hampton  lived  at  the  Harem  about 
eight  years,  and  superintended  the  culinary  department. 
Some  misunderstanding  having  arisen  between  her  and  the 
Prophet,  he  again  cast  her  off.  It  is  said  that  she  was  un- 
willing to  be  sealed  over  the  altar  for  eternity  to  Young, 
preferring  her  first  husband  in  the  eternal  world.  Her  son, 
Ncphi  Hampton,  provided  a  house  for  her  at  Ogden,  a  pleas- 
ant town  forty  miles  north  of  Salt  Lake,  where  she  now 
resides. 

Vilate  is  now  about  fourteen  years  of  age,  beautiful  and 
accomplished.  She  and  Brigham  Heber,  now  about  twenty 
years  old,  were  engaged  to  be  married,  but  his  father  dis- 
approved the  match,  and  laid  a  plan  to  defeat  it.  In  the 
fall  of  1863,  Feramorz  Little  sent  for  Vilate  to  come  down 
to  the  city,  and  proposed  to  have  her  board  Avith  him  and 
attend  school.  His  real  object  was  to  secure  her  for  his 
fourth  wife  and  at  the  same  time  prevent  her  marrying  the 
son  of  the  President.  During  all  tliis  time  the  girl  frequently 
inquired,  with  much  anxiety,  about  her  father. 

In  18G3  Cole  enlisted  in  the  2d  Regiment  of  Infantry, 
Nevada  Volunteers,  and  came  to  Salt  Lake  City  expressly 
for  the  purpose  of  finding  his  daughter.  After  much  inquiry 
he  ascertained  where  his  wife  and  child  were  living,  and 
"wrote  a  letter  to  Vilate.  The  mother  received  the  letter, 
read  it,  and  put  it  in  the  fire.  Thus  the  matter  rested,  until 
Vilate  came  to  the  city.  One  day  she  said  to  her  sister  Julia, 
,(Mrs.  Little,)  "  Would  it  not  be  strange  if  my  father  was 
among  the  soldiers  ? "  Said  Julia,  "  He  is.  Did  n't  you 
know  it?  Nephi  told  me  all  about  it."  This  gave  her  new 
courage,  and  thenceforth  she  made  every  effort  to  see  her 
father.  For  some  time  she  was  closely  watched,  and  Cole, 
who  had  found  where  she  was,  was  denied  admission  to  her ; 


THE  WIVES   OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG.  221 

but  the  girl's  resolution  remaining  firm,  Little,  fearing  she 
would  leave  liim,  finally  permitted  an  interview.  The  happy 
meeting  of  the  fother  with  his  only  child,  after  an  absence  of 
eleven  years,  who  shall  describe  ?  Cole  still  remains  in 
Utah,  devoted  to  his  daughter,  whom  he  visits  frequently, 
and  is  not  without  hope  of  getting  her  away  from  her  unfor- 
tunate associations.  The  task  is  a  delicate  and  difficult  one, 
and  in  his  efforts  to  accomplish  it,  he  has  the  sympathy  of 
every  fathei*. 

Mary  Bigelow.  —  I  can  give  no  description  of  this  woman. 
She  was  sealed  to  Young  at  "  Winter  Quarters,"  and  came 
on  with  him  to  Utah.  After  a  time  she  left  the  Harem,  and 
what  became  of  her  is  unknown  to  me. 

Emeline  Free,  or  the  Light  of  the  Harem. 

"  0  Nourmahal ! 


Thou  loveliest,  dearest  of  them  all ; 
The  one  whose  smile  shone  out  alone 
Amidst  a  world,  the  only  one 
Whose  light,  among  so  many  lights, 
Was  liive  that  star,  on  starry  nights, 
The  seaman  singles  from  the  sky, 
To  steer  his  bark  forever  by ! " 

Emeline  is  tall  and  graceful ;  with  mild,  violet  eyes,  fair 
hair,  inclined  to  curl.  She  has  long  been  the  favorite  of 
the  Prophet,  —  the  light  of  his  eyes,  and  the  joy  of  his 
heart. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Free,  her  father  and  mother,  were  opposed 
to  polygamy,  and  Brigham  went  one  day  to  convince  them  of 
their  error.  The  beautiful  Emeline  was  the  first  he  sough) 
to  win,  and  he  argued  and  expounded  the  new  doctrine  with 
wonderful  zeal  and  fervor.  At  length  the  parents  were  con- 
vinced. The  Prophet  of  the  Lord  stepped  up  to  Emeline, 
laid  his  saintly  hand  upon  her  shoulder,  and  said,  in  fervid 
accents,  "  Emeline,  will  you  be  my  wife  ?  "  "  Yes,  sir,"  was 
the  reply.  This  was  their  courtship.  She  at  once  became 
♦he  favorite,  and  many  a  heart  grew  sad  when  she  became 
an  inmate  of  the  Harem. 


222  THE  WIVES   OF  BRIGHAM  YOUXG. 

Brigham  distinguished  her  in  eveiy  way ;  gave  her  better 
rooms  than  the  rest,  and  servants  to  wait  upon  her.  She 
grew  to  love  him,  and  obtained  a  powerful  influence  over 
him.  There  is  no  weapon  so  powerful  as  a  woman's  tears. 
This  Emeline  believed,  and  often  acted  upon,  to  bring  back 
her  truant  lover,  when  she  thought  too  much  attention  was 
paid  to  others.  Finally,  so  great  became  the  jealousy  of  the 
oj^her  wives,  that  the  husband  of  these  contending  fair  ones 
constructed  a  private  hall  leading  from  his  office  to  Emeline's 
room,  that  he  might  visit  her  without  observation  or  con- 
straint. He  devoted  himself  to  her  exclusively,  and  she 
reigned  supreme  over  the  sisters.  She  received  her  company 
in  the  grand  saloon ;  she  occupied  the  seat  of  honor  at  the 
table,  at  the  right  hand  of  her  husband.  In  short,  she  was 
the  mistress  of  the  Harem. 

At  that  time  the  most  of  the  women  did  their  own  work, 
and  stayed  in  their  own  rooms,  so  that  there  was  but  little 
communication  with  each  other.  She  has  eight  children,  but 
is  still  a  young-looking  woman. 

But,  alas  !  "  the  course  of  true  love  never  did  run  smooth," 
and  Emeline  was  doomed  to  have  a  rival.  When  the  Prophet 
"  took "  Amelia,  his  last  love,  poor  Emeline  was  heart-bro- 
ken. She  was  taken  very  sick,  and  her  life  was,  for  a  long 
time,  despaired  of.  From  her  "  sisters "  she  received  no 
sympathy.  The  bitter  cup  which  they  had  been  obliged  to 
drink,  was  now  commended  to  her  own  lips.  From  the  con- 
fiding and  happy  wife,  she  has  become  the  rejected  and  suf- 
fering mistress,  and  must  now  drag  out  the  remainder  of 
her  days  a  faded,  cast-off  woman.  And  Amelia,  the  present 
queen,  what  of  her  ?  She  too,  will  soon  take  her  place  by 
the  side  of  Emeline  and  Mary  Ann.  •  Other  and  younger 
women  will  take  the  place  she  now  occupies,  and  in  their 
turn  be  cast  off,  to  suffer  with  her. 

^'^  Proxy  Women." 

This  is  a  very  common  term  in  Utah,  and  signifies  that  a 
woman   is  married  to  one  man  for  "  time,"  and  sealed  to 


THE  WIVES  OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG.  223 

another  for  eternity.  All  her  children  belong  to  the  man  to 
whom  she  is  sealed,  no  matter  which  may  be  their  father,  or 
whether  the  mother  ever  married  the  celestial  husband  "  in 
time."  This  is  a  I'efiiiement  upon  the  Jewish  doctrine,  which 
required  a  man  to  "raise  up  children  to  his  dead  brother." 

Of  this  class  of  women  Brigham  Young  has  four,  all  of 
whom,  while  they  live  with  him  for  "  time,"  are  sealed  to 
Joseph  Smith  for  eternity,  and  to  Joseph  must  they  be  deliv- 
ered over,  with  their  children,  in  the  first  resurrection. 

"  Miss  "  Eliza  Roxy  Snow  is  of  middling  stature,  dark 
hair,  well  silvered  with  gray ;  dark  eyes,  noble  intelligent 
comitenance,  and  quiet  and  dignified  in  manner.*  She  is  the 
most  intellectual  of  the  women. 

Her  literary  taste  and  acquirements  are  good,  and  she  has 
composed  some  very  creditable  hymns  for  the  church  of 
which  she  is  a  conscientious  and  devoted  member.  A  volume 
of  her  poems  has  also  been  published,  some  of  which  evmce 
genius  of  a  high  order. 

She  is  quite  exclusive  in  her  tistes,  and  associates  but 
little  with  the  "  women."  She  occupies  a  small  room  on  the 
third  floor  of  the  Harem,  about  twelve  by  fifteen  feet  in  size. 
A  neat  carpet  covers  the  floor ;  a  common  bedstead  occu- 
pies one  corner.  There  are  some  oak  chairs  gi-ained,  with 
crochet  covers,  white  window-curtfuns  and  bed-spread,  her 
"  own  handiwork."  Behind  the  door  is  a  neat  little  ward- 
robe. On  a  shelf  over  the  window,  stands  a  va'^e  of  artifi- 
cial flowers.  A  stand,  covered  with  books,  usually  occupies 
the  centre  of  the  room,  and  these  articles,  with  a  neat  Uttle 
stove,  make  up  the  fm-niture. 

This  is  the  home  of  "  the  sweet  singer  of  Israel."  She 
has  cast  the  charm  of  her  genius  over  the  rude  materials, 
and  there  is  an  air  of  neatness,  comfort,  and  refinement  about 
her  little  sanctum  which  is  not  apparent  in  any  other  por- 
tion of  the  house.  Here  she  receives  and  entertains  her 
company.  She  occupies  her  time  chiefly  in  writing,  and  in 
needle-work.     She  is  highly  respected  by  the  family,  who 


224  THE  WIVES  OF  BlIIGHAM  YOUNG. 

call  her  "  one  of  the  nobles  of  the  earth,"  When  tired  of 
Avnting  and  study,  she  walks  out  and  visits  her  friends.  If 
any  one  is  sick  in  the  house  she  looks  after  the  invalid,  and 
shows  every  kindness  and  attention.  She  soothes  the  afflicted, 
and  cares  for  the  infirm  and  aged.  She  and  Zina  D.  Hunting- 
ton are  the  most  lady-like  and  accomplished  of  the  wives. 

The  following  verses,  written  by  Miss  Eliza  R.  Snow,  will 
show  her  style  as  well  as  the  religious  fervor  and  fanati- 
cism for  which  she  is  remarkable. 

[For  the  Deseret  News-I 
♦'  The  Lacl'ies  of  Utah  to  the  Ladies  of  the  United  States  Campf 
in  a  Crusade  against  the  Mormons. 

BY  MISS   E.   R.   SNOW. 

Why  are  you  in  these  mountains, 

Exposed  to  frosts  and  snows  ? 
Far  from  your  sheltering  houses, 

From  comfort  and  repose  ? 

Has  cruel  persecution. 

With  unrelenting  hand, 
Thrust  you  from  home  and  kindred, 

And  from  your  native  land  ? 

Have  you  been  robbed  and  plundered, 

Till  you  are  penniless, 
And  then  in  destitution 

Driven  to  the  wilderness  ? 

No,  no ;  you  've  joined  a  crusade 

Against  the  peace  of  those 
Driven  to  these  distant  valleys 

By  cruel,  murderous  foes. 

Amid  the  dreary  desert, 

Where  hideous  red  men  roam  ; 
Where  beasts  of  prey  were  howling, 

We  've  made  ourselves  a  home. 


THE  WIVES   OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG  225 

Can  woman's  heart  be  callous, 

And  made  of  flint  and  steel  ? 
Perhaps  you  '11  learn  to  pity, 

When  you  are  made  to  feel. 

Should  sickness  prey  upon  you, 

And  children  cry  for  bread, 
With  bitter  self-reproaches 

You  '11  rue  the  path  you  tread. 

We  love  -with  purest  feelings. 

Our  husbands,  children,  frienfls  ; 
We  've  learned  to  prize  the  blessings . 

Which  God  in  mercy  sends. 

We  have  the  ancient  order 

To  us  by  prophets  given ; 
And  here  we  have  the  pattern 

As  things  exist  in  Heaven. 

We  'd  fain  from  human  suffering 

Each  barbed  arrow  draw, 
But  yet  self-preservation 

Is  God's  and  Nature's  law. 

The  Scriptures  are  fulfilling. 

The  spoiler 's  being  spoiled  ; 
All  Satan's  foul  devices 

'Gainst  ZIon  will  be  foiled. 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  Oct.  13,  1857." 

This  is  given  not  as  a  fair  specimen  of  her  poetry,  for  she 
has  written  much  better,  but  to  illustrate  how  completely  she 
was  devoted  to  the  interests  of  her  people  at  that  exciting 
period  of  their  history. 

Zina  D.  Huntington  Jacobs  is  of  large  form,  well  propor- 
tioned, high  forehead,  with  light  hair  and  eyes.  She  is  of  a 
melancholy  temperament,  as  is  plainly  indicated  by  the  ex- 
oression  of  her  countenance.  She  has  three  children,  and 
has  charge  of  the  children  of  Clara  Chase. 

15 


226  THE  WIVES   OF  BRIGHAM   YOUNG. 

Zina  has  some  literary  ability,  and  sometimes  writes  poetry. 
She  has  a  special  office  in  tlie  family,  which  is  to  act  as  gov- 
erness for  all  the  young  ladies,  accompanying  them  in  their 
attendance  to  singing-schools  and  other  pubHc  places.  Zina 
came  to  Utah  with  her  husband,  Dr.  Jacobs.  Young  became 
attached  to  her,  sent  the  Doctor  on  a  mission,  and  in  his  ab- 
sence appropriated  to  himself  the  wife  and  children.  Dr. 
Jacobs  is  still  in  California,  and  is  an  "  apostate."  Zina 
stands  in  great  awe  of  Brighara,  who  treats  her  with  marked 
coldness  and  neglect. 

Amelia  Partridge  is  rather  tall,  with  a  fine  form,  black 
hair,  dark  eyes,  dark  complexion,  sweet  expression  of  coun- 
tenance, and  very  mild  and  amiable  in  disposition.  She  and 
her  sister  Eliza  had  been  servants  in  the  family  of  Joseph 
Smith,  in  Nauvoo. 

Amelia  has  four  children,  to  whom  she'  is  devotedly  at- 
tached. She  is  a  kind  and  gentle  mother,  patient  and  for- 
giving, —  one  of  the  excellent  ones  of  earth.  She  takes  but 
little  interest  in  family  matters,  outside  of  the  circle  of  her 
own  children. 

Mrs.  Augusta  Cohh  is  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  for- 
merly resided  in  Boston.  She  is  a  large,  fine-looking  person, 
—  dark  hair,  gray  eyes,  and  clear  complexion.  She  is  very 
stylish  in  appearance,  and  of  dignified  demeanor.  She  was 
converted  to  Monnonism  at  Boston,  fifteen  years  ago,  left 
her  husband  and  a  very  interesting  family  of  children,  and 
with  one  little  girl,  Charlotte,  came  to  Utah,  and  took  up  her 
residence  at  the  Harem,  as  a  plural  wife  of  Brigham  Young. 

She  is  high-spirited  and  imperious.  She  once  returned  to 
ber  family  in  Boston,  and  remained  two  years,  but  was  too 
deeply  involved  in  the  meshes  of  Mormonism  to  be  satisfied 
away  from  Zion,  and  again  returned  to  Salt  Lake.  She  now 
lives  in  a  neat  little  cottage  near  the  Lion  House,  and  is  sup. 
ported  by  Young.  Her  son,  James  Cobb,  after  finishing  his 
course  of  study  in  the  East,  came  to  Salt  Lake,  and  after 
some  years,  through  the  influence  of  his  mother,  joined  the 


THE  WIVES   OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG.  227 

church.  Previous  to  becoming  a  Mormon,  he  expressed 
much  anxiety  about  his  mother  and  sister  Charlotte,  —  now 
an  interesting  j^oung  lady,  —  and  used  many  arguments  and 
entreaties  to  induce  them  to  leave,  but  finally  himself  yielded 
to  the  seductive  influences  which  surrounded  him. 

Charlotte  at  one  time  enjoyed  the  proud  title  of  "  the  belle 
of  Salt  Lake."  She  has  steadfastly  opposed  polygamy,  and 
hence  has  remained  unmarried. 

Mrs.  Smith  is  an  elderly  woman,  who  admired  Brother 
Brigham  very  much,  and  desired  to  be  sealed  to  him,  to  in- 
sure her  salvation.  Young  did  not  reciprocate  her  senti- 
ments toward  him,  but  compromised  the  matter  by  sealing 
her  to  Joseph  Smith  for  eternity,  and  to  himself  for  time. 
After  this  ceremony  had  been  performed,  he  committed  her 
to  the  care  of  the  Bishop  of  the  ward,  directing  him  to  sup- 
port her. 

There  are  many  of  this  class  of  women  in  the  Territory. 

Clara  Chase,  the  Maniac. 

This  woman  was  of  medium  height,  dark  hair  and  eyes, 
rather  sullen  expression  of  countenance,  low  forehead,  and 
her  features  indicative  of  deep-seated  melancholy.  When 
Young  married  her,  he  treated  her  with  marked  considera- 
tion. He  assigned  to  her  an  elegant  apartment,  in  which 
hung  the  only  oil-painting  of  himself.  She  from  the  first 
distrusted  the  principle  of  polygamy,  and  had  many  misgiv- 
ings of  conscience  in  regard  to  her  course  in  marrying  the 
Prophet. 

For  a  time  she  lived  in  this  way,  in  a  strait  between  two 
opinions.  When  her  husband  treated  her  kindly,  she  tried 
to  be  happy,  but  when  he  was  cold  and  unfeeling  toward 
her,  she  was  driven  well-nigh  to  desperation.  In  the  mean 
time  she  had  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living. 
They  are  bright  and  intelligent  girls,  fourteen  and  sixteen 
years  of  age. 

As  she  approached  her  fourth  confinement,  her  fits  of 


228  THE  WIVES   OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG. 

remorse  became  more  frequent  and  more  terrible.  She  re- 
proached herself  with  having  committed  the  unpardonable 
sin.  Her  condition  was  truly  pitiable.  During  her  sickness 
Brigham  treated  her  with  such  coldness  and  neglect,  that  she 
became  actually  insane,  and  raved  incessantly.  — "  Oh,  I 
have  committed  the  unpardonable  sin !  Oh,  wani  my  poor 
children  not  to  follow  my  bad  example.  I  am  going  to  hell. 
Brigham  has  caused  it.  lie  has  cursed  me,  and  1  shall  soon 
be  there.  Oh!  do  not  any  of  you  go  into  polygamy.  It  will 
curse  you,  and  damn  your  souls  eternally,"  When  her  hus- 
band appeared,  she  cursed  him  as  the  author  of  her  destruc- 
tion. 

The  "  President "  and  his  two  "  counsellors  "  "  laid  hands  " 
on  her,  but  all  of  no  avail.  Dr.  Sprague,  the  family  phy- 
sician, was  sent  for ;  but  her  poor  wrecked  spirit  would  no 
longer  abide  where  it  had  suffered  so  much,  and  she  died  a 
raving  maniac. 

Amelia,  or  the  Last  Love. 

Amelia  Folsom  is  a  native  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  She 
is  tall,  and  well  formed,  with  light  hair  and  gray  eyes, 
and  regular  features.  She  is  quite  pale,  owing  to  ill  health. 
Has  but  little  refinement  of  manner.  When  at  the  theatre, 
sitting  in  the  King's  box,  with  her  husband,  the  observed 
of  all  observers,  she  may  be  seen  eating  apples,  throwing  the 
skins  about,  chatting  with  Brigham,  and  occasionally  level- 
ling her  glass  at  some  one  in  the  assembly. 

She  plays  and  sings,  but  with  indifferent  skill  and  taste. 
She  was,  for  a  long  tipie,  unwilling  to  marry  the  President, 
but  he  continued  his  suit  with  a  pertinacity  worthy  a  better 
cause,  and  by  repeated  promises  of  advancement  made  to 
herself  and  her  parents,  finally  succeeded.  For  several 
months  he  had  urged  his  suit,  during  which  time  his  carriage 
might  be  seen,  almost  any  day,  standing  at  her  father's  door, 
for  hours  at  a  time.  He  told  her  she  Avas  created  expressly 
for  himself,  and  could  marry  no  one  else  on  pain  of  everlast- 


THE  WIVES   OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG.  229 

ing  destruction.  She  plead,  protested,  and  wept,  but  he  per- 
severed, and  at  length,  when  all  other  arguments  failed,  he 
told  her  he  had  received  a  special  revelation  from  Heaven 
on  the  subject.  She  had  always  believed  in  Mormonism, 
and  had  been  taught  to  have  faith  in  revelation.  "  Amelia," 
he  said,  "  you  must  be  my  wife ;  God  has  revealed  it  to  me. 
You  cannot  be  saved  by  any  one  else.  If  you  will  marry 
me,  I  will  save  you,  and  exalt  you  to  be  a  queen  in  the 
celestial  world,  but  if  you  refuse,  you  will  be  destroyed,  both 
soul  and  body." 

The  poor  girl  believed  this  hellish  impostor,  and  yielding 
to  his  wishes,  became  his  wife.  For  several  months  after 
her  marriage,  Amelia  was  sad  and  dejected,  but  of  late  she 
has  rallied,  and  now  appears  the  gayest  of  the  gay.  This 
marriage  took  place  on  the  29th  day  of  January,  1863, — 
more  than  six  months  after  the  passage  by  Congress  of  the 
anti-polygamy  law,  —  and  was  public  and  notorious.  Here 
was  perpetrated  in  one  act,  the  double  crime  of  destroying 
forever  the  happiness  of  a  young  lady  and  setting  before  his 
people  the  example  of  an  open  violation  of  a  law  of  the 
land.  Yet  for  both  crimes  he  goes  unpunished,  and  con- 
tinues to  sit  in  his  chair  of  state,  clothed  in  authority  and 
power,  not  only  the  wonder,  but  the  admiration,  of  thousands 
outside  of  the  Mormon  Church  ! 

Amelia  is  evidently  living  under  constraint,  and  acting  an 
assumed  character.  She  is  playing  the  role  of  a  happy  wife, 
wilh  a  breaking  heart.  At  the  time  of  her  marriage,  her 
heart  had  been  given  to  another,  to  whom  she  should  have 
been  married.  That  she  compromised  her  character,  in 
marrying  Young  under  the  circumstances,  is  a  fact  too  noto- 
rious to  be  concealed,  —  and  this  connection  has  brought 
more  odium  upon  polygamy  than  any  the  "  President "  ever 
formed. 

Nevertheless,  Amelia  stands  the  recognized  Queen  of  the 
Harem.  She  leads  the  ion,  and  is  the  model  woman  for  the 
saints.     Thousands  bow  low  as  she  passes,  and  think  them- 


230  THE  WIVES   OF  BRIGIIAM  YOUNG. 

selves  bappy  to  receive  her  passing  recognition.  She  is  now 
a  queen,  and  is  to  be  a  goddess  in  the  celestial  world.  The 
nevir  wife  sometimes  becomes  restive  and  impatient,  and 
treats  her  liege  lord  rather  shabbily.  She  is  at  times 
notional  and  imperious,  and  somewhat  coquettish, —  to  all 
of  which  her  husband  submits  with  good  grace  for  the  pres- 
ent, and  pets  her  as  a  child. 

The  Bee-Hive  House,  formerly  occupied  by  Mrs.  Young 
and  her  family,  has  been  vacated  for  Amelia.  Servants  are 
at  her  disposal,  and  her  establishment  is  extensive  and  im- 
posing. 

Brigham  spends  much  of  his  time  with  his  new  wife,  and 
often  dines  with  her.  One  evening  a  friend  was  taking  tea 
with  the  newly-married  couple.  Amelia  behaved  quite 
naughtily  toward  her  lord.  After  tea  was  finished,  they 
remained  at  the  table,  eating  nuts  and  confectioneries. 
Amelia  threw  her  shells  through  an  open  window,  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  room.  Her  husband  said,  "  Amelia, 
don't  do  that;  put  your  shells  by  your  plate."  "I  sha'n't 
do  it,"  replied  the  fair  one ;  "  I  '11  throw  them  where  I 
please."  Young  was  silent  for  a  time,  but  became  so  an- 
noyed that  he  again  said :  "  Amelia,  I  wish  you  would  n't 
do  that  any  more."  "  I  don't  care,"  replied  the  spouse,  pet- 
tishly, "  I  '11  throw  the  shells  where  J  please,  and  I  '11  do  as 
I  please,  and  you  may  help  yourself."  And  pulling  her 
guest  by  tlie  dress,  she  said  :  "  Come,  let 's  go  up-stairs,  and 
let  him  grunt  it  out." 

The  theatre  was  dedicated  by  prayer  and  a  grand  ball. 
This  was  in  the  winter  of  18G2-63.  Brigliam  led  off  in  the 
dance  with  Amelia,  and  all  was  smiles  and  sunshine.  On 
another  occasion,  he  honored  another  one  of  "  the  women " 
with  his  hand  for  the  first  cotillon.  This  so  displeased  Amelia, 
that  she  refused  to  dance  with  him  at  all.  He  coaxed,  she 
shrugged  her  shoulders,  and  shook  her  head.  It  was  only 
after  much  condescension  and  solicitation  on  his  part  that 
Bhe  granted  her  forgiveness,  and  consented  to  dance  with  him. 


THE  WIVES   OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG.  231 

This  gay  Lothario  of  sixty-three  then  led  forth  his  blushing 
mistress,  and  "  all  went  merry  as  a  marriage-bell." 

Amelia  has  lovers  still,  for  one  of  whom  she  entertains 
considerable  feeling.  He  was  sent  to  "  Dixie,"  or  the  Cotton 
District,  in  Southern  Utah,  on  a  mission.  He  soon  returned, 
however,  to  Salt  Lake,  and  by  his  presence  in  the  city,  causes 
the  Prophet  considerable  anxiety. 

Amelia  is  tyrannical,  and  rules  the  women  of  the  Harem 
with  a  strong  hand.  Poor  Emeline  is  quite  broken-hearted. 
Naturally  very  sensitive,  this  blow  prostrated  her  upon  a  bed 
of  sickness,  from  which  it  was  feared  she  would  never  re- 
cover. But  she  lives  to  drag  out  a  miserable  life,  —  neither 
wife  nor  mistress,  but  a  castaway. 

Li  fact  all  the  women  are  miserable  and  unhappy.  A 
common  remark,  in  reply  to  the  usual  salutation,  is,  "  Oh,  I  've 
got  the  blues  to-day." 

The  Prophet  in  Love  the  Thirtieth  Time. 

Miss  Selima  Ursenback  is  a  native  of  Geneva,  Switzer- 
land, and  with  her  parents  and  brother  came  to  Utah  in  the 
fall  of  18fi2.  She  is  an  accomplished  musician,  and  at  once 
became  a  favorite  with  the  Mormons.  Several  concerts  were 
given,  at  which  she  figured  as  prima  donna,  and  although 
she  sang  in  French,  the  melody  of  her  voice  and  the  artistic 
characte?  of  her  music  gained  for  her  an  established  reputa- 
tion. 

Brigham  heard,  and  was  delighted.  Her  voice  was  music 
to  his  ravished  ear,  and,  for  the  thirtieth  time,  the  little  god 
let  slip  his  arrow,  and  launched  it  into  the  Prophet's  heart. 

Says  a  celebrated  writer  :  — 

"  Now  there  are  various  ways  of  getting  in  love.  A  man  falls 
in  love  just  as  he  falls  down-stairs.  It  is  an  accident.  But  when 
he  runs  in  love,  it  is  as  when  he  runs  in  debt :  it  is  done  know- 
ingly, intentionally,  and  very  often  rashly  and  foolishly,  even  if 
not  ridiculously,  miserably,  and  ruinously. 


232  THE  WIVES  OF  BRIGIIAil  YOUNG. 

"  The  rarest  and  happiest  marriages  are  between  those  who 
have  grown  in  love.  Take  the  description  of  such  a  love  in  its 
rise  and  progress,  ye  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  who  have 
what  is  called  a  taste  for  poetry.  Take  it  in  the  sweet  words  of 
one  of  the  sweetest  and  tenderest  of  English  poets,  and  then  say 
whether  this  is  not  the  way  that  leads  to  happiness  and  bliss. 

"  '  Ah !  I  remember  well  (and  how  can  I 
But  evermore  remember  well)  when  first 
Our  flame  began;  when  scarce  we  knew  what  was 
The  flame  we  felt.     "When  as  we  sat  and  sighed, 
And  looked  upon  each  other,  and  conceived 
Not  what  we  ailed,  — yet  something  we  did  ail; 
And  yet  were  well,  and  yet  we  were  not  well ; 
And  what  was  our  disease,  we  could  not  tell. 
Then  would  we  ki:>s,  then  sigh,  then  look;  and  thus, 
In  that  first  garden  of  our  simpleness, 
We  spent  our  childhood.     But  when  years  began 
To  reap  the  fruit  of  knowledge,  ah,  how  then 
Would  she  with  graver  looks,  with  sweet,  stern  brow, 
Check  my  presumption,  and  my  forwardness; 
Yet  still  would  give  me  flowers,  still  would  me  show 
What  she  would  have  me,  yet  not  have  me  know.' 

"  Falling  in  love,  and  running  in  love,  are,  as  everybody  knows, 
common  enough,  and  yet  less  so  than  what  I  shall  call  catching 
love.  Where  the  love  itself  is  imprudent,  that  is  to  say,  where 
there  is  some  just,  prudential  cause  or  impediment  why  the  two 
parties  should  not  be  joined  together  in  holy  matrimony,  there  is 
culpable  imprudence  in  catching  it,  because  danger  i^  always  to 
be  apprehended,  which  may  have  been  avoided." 

It  is  plain  to  be  seen,  our  Prophet  did  not  walk  into  love, 
—  he  did  not  run  into  it.  He  caught  it,  as  a  man  catches 
the  measles.  It  broke  out,  and  showed  itself  all  over,  in 
smiles,  bows,  and  sweet  honeyed  tones.  It  is  also  plain  that 
he  should  not  have  caught  it.  Had  he  not  the  charming 
Amelia,  dear  Emeline,  sweet  Lucy,  pretty  Twiss,  his  darling 
Lucy  No.  2,  poetic  Eliza,  meek  Zina,  and  his  dear,  dear 
Jemima,  Martha,  Ellen,  Susan,  Hattie,  etc.,  etc.  How  could 
any  man,  much  less  a  prophet,  wish  for  more  ? 


THE  WIVES  OF  BEIGHAM  YOUNG.  233 

But  he  said  to  himself,  "  I  have  not  a  French  ladj  in  the 
family  to  teach  my  daughters  that  charming  language.  I 
have  no  prima  donna  to  conduct  their  musical  education. 
Then  my  last  love  —  my  pretty,  naughty,  bewitching  Ame- 
lia —  is  so  cross  and  fitful,  she  leads  me  such  a  crazy  life,  she 
frets  and  scolds,  and  I  cannot  drown  her  voice,  even  with  my 
'  sacred  fiddle.'  [He  had  frequently  boasted  that  with  his 
violin  he  could  put  a  stop  to  the  scolding  of  any  of  his 
women.] 

"  Then  my  French  lady  is  accomplished.  She  can  receive 
my  foreign  guests.  She  is  so  clever,  that  she  can  assist  me 
in  my  business  projects  and  plans ;  and  if  she  should  prove 
unkind,  —  which  God  grant  she  may  not,  —  and  if  her  sweet 
lips  should  scold,  I  should  have  a  great  advantage,  —  1  could 
not  widerstand  her.  Then  her  name, —  Selima!  How  poetical. 
None  of  my  wives  have  such  a  poetical  name.  With  her  in 
my  Harem,  I  could  rival  the  Sultan  himself.  Yes,  sweet, 
adored  Selima,  you  shall  be  mine.  You  shall  be  the  high 
priestess  of  my  affections,  and  all  my  common  women  shall 
serve  you." 

The  Prophet  plead  his  suit,  but  Selima  was  like  stone.  He 
had  a  young  man  in  his  employ  who  dared  to  love  Selima. 
The  rival  lovers  met  face  to  face.    The  Prophet  was  furious, 

—  "  She  is  not  for  you,  sir,  she  is  not  for  you.  Leave  my 
service,  and  never  dare  to  aspire  to  that  young  lady's  hand 
again." 

Alas,  that  love  so  devoted,  so  pure  and  disinterested  as 
Brigham's,  should  fail  to  be  rewarded  by  the  object  of  its 
choice.  But  no  sooner  had  the  poor  singing-master,  for 
such  he  was,  left  the  Territory  for  California,  than  an- 
other rival  appeared  in  the  field,  —  a  California  volunteer, 

—  a  dangerous  rival;  one  who  would  not  fear  to  follow 
up  any  advantage  he  might  gain  over  his  spiritual  com- 
petitor. 

To  destroy  the  romance  of  the  whole  story,  Selima,  charm- 


234  THE  WIVES   OF  BRIGHAM  YOUNG. 

ing  but  sensible  Selima,  becoming  disgusted  with  the  whole 
affair,  soon  after  left  for  Switzerland  again,  leaving  her  lov- 
ers to  settle  the  matter  among  themselves. 

For  once  in  his  life,  Brigham  Young  was  foiled,  and  that 
by  a  woman. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

POLYGAMY. 

Condition  of  "Woman  among  various  Heathen  Nations. — Influence  of 
Christianity.  —  Mormonism  and  Woman. — Brigham  offers  to  set  the 
"Women  Free. — Arguments  in  Favor  of  Polygamy.  —  The  Argument 
against  it.  —  Abraham  and  Sarah.  —  Appeal  to  Mormon  Women. — 
Their  Unhappy  Condition. — Evil  Effects  of  the  System.  —  Illustrations. 

Woman  is  looked  upon  and  treated  by  all  heathen  nations 
as  an  inferior  being,  created  for  the  convenience  and  comfort 
of  man. 

"  According  to  the  ancient  Rabbis,  the  rib  which  had  been 
taken  from  Adam,  was  laid  down  for  a  moment,  and  in  that  mo- 
ment a  monkey  came  and  stole  it,  and  ran  off  with  it,  full  speed. 
An  angel  pursued,  and  though  not  in  league  with  the  monkey,  he 
could  have  been  no  good  angel ;  for,  overtaking  him,  he  caught 
him  by  the  tail,  brought  it  maliciously  back  ''nstead  of  the  rib,  and 
out  of  that  tail  was  woman  made.  What  became  of  the  rib  with 
which  the  monkey  got  clear  off '  was  never  to  mortal  known.' 

"  The  Hungarians  think  it  infamous  to  be  governed  by  a  woman, 
—  and  when  the  crown  fell  to  a  female,  they  called  her  King 
Mary  instead  of  Queen. 

"  Aristotle  calls  woman  a  monster,  and  Plato  makes  it  a  ques- 
tion whether  she  ought  not  to  be  ranked  among  irrational  crea- 
tures. 

"  Mahomet,  too,  was  not  the  only  person  who  has  supposed  that 
women  have  no  souls.  Among  the  Afghans,  twelve  young  women 
were  given  as  compensation  for  the  slaughter  of  one  man.  Six 
for  cutting  off  a  hand,  an  ear,  or  a  nose  ;  three  for  breaking  a 
tooth,  and  one  for  a  wound  of  the  scalp.  By  the  laws  of  the  Vene- 
tians, and  of  certain  other  Oriental  people,  the  testimony  of  two 
women  was  made  equivalent  to  that  of  one  man. 


236  rOLYGAMY. 

"  According  to  the  Brahmins,  the  widow  who  burns  herself  with 
the  body  of  her  husband,  will,  in  her  next  state,  be  born  a  male ; 
but  the  widow  who  refuses  to  make  the  self-sacrifice,  will  never  be 
anything  better  than  a  woman,  let  her  be  born  again  as  often  as 
she  may." 

The  Jew  begins  his  public  prayer  with  a  thanksgiving  to 
his  INIaker  for  not  having  made  hira  a  woman.  The  Moors  do 
not  allow  women  to  enter  their  mosques  or  places  of  worship. 

Mussulmen  hold  that  there  is  a  separate  paradise  for  wo- 
men, considering  them  unworthy  to  occupy  the  same  as  the 
men,  except  such  beautiful  women  as  are  assigned  to  the 
male  occupants  as  a  reward  for  a  virtuous  and  religious  life 
on  earth.  "  Sit  not  in  the  midst  of  women,"  said  the  son  of 
Sirach,  in  his  wisdom  ;  "  for  from  garments  cometh  a  moth, 
and  from  women  wickedness." 

"  It  is  a  bad  thing,"  said  Augustine,  "  to  look  upon  a  wo- 
man, a  worse  to  speak  to  her,  and  to  touch  her,  worst  of  all." 
John  Bunyan  thanked  God  that  he  had  made  him  shy  of  the 
Avomen.  "  The  common  salutation  of  women,  I  abhor,"  said 
he,  "  their  company  alone,  I  cannot  away  with."  "  Look  at 
the  very  name  woman,"  says  another  author,  "  it  evidently 
means  woe  to  man,  because  by  woman  was  woe  brought  into 
the  world." 

The  Turk  does  not  exclude  woman  from  his  heaven,  but 
she  is  there  only  to  minister  to  his  pa^^sions  and  wants.  She 
bears  to  his  lips  the  golden  goblet,  filled  with  the  nectar  of 
the  gods. 

The  Indian  hunter  believes  his  squaw,  as  well  as  his  faith- 
ful dog,  will  bear  him  company  to  those  shadowy  hunting- 
grounds  beyond  the  dark  river. 

Among  all  these  heathen  and  degraded  nations,  polygamy 
has  prevailed.  Among  them  all,  woman  has  been  but  the 
slave  of  the  stronger  sex.  Her  feelings  have  been  outraged, 
her  spirit  crushed,  and  her  heart  broken  ;  or,  which  is  still 
worse,  her  natui-e  has  become  imbruted  and  insensible  to  all 
the  finer  feelings  and  nobler  impulses  of  her  sex. 


POLYGAMY.  237 

But  behold  the  day-star  from  on  high,  the  lowly  Jesus. 
He  came  to  bring  deliverance  to  the  captive,  to  let  the  op- 
pressed go  free.  No  longer  is  woman  to  be  degraded  and 
despised.  The  holy  covenant  of  marriage  which  Moses,  by 
reason  of  the  hardness  of  their  hearts,  permitted  the  Jews  to 
break,  was  henceforth  to  be  kept  inviolate.  "  It  hath  been 
said,  whosoever  shall  put  away  Ms  wife,  let  him  give  her  a 
writing  of  divorcement.  But  I  say  unto  you,  that  whosoever 
shall  put  away  his  wife,  saving  for  the  cause  of  fornication, 
causeth  her  to  commit  adultery ;  and  whosoever  shall  marry 
her  that  is  divorced,  committeth  adultery."  And  again,  — 
"  For  this  cause  shall  a  man  leave  father  and  mother,  and 
shall  cleave  to  his  wife ;  and  they  twain  shall  be  one  flesh." 

The  position  of  woman,  and  her  duties  in  life,  are  well 
defined  in  the  New  Testament  Scriptures.  If  married,  she  is 
to  direct  her  household  affairs,  raise  up  children,  be  subject 
unto  her  husband,  and  use  all  due  benevolence  toward  him  ; 
but  his  duties  are  equally  well  defined.  He  must  love  his 
wife,  even  as  Christ  loved  his  church  and  gave  himself  for 
it ;  and  the  fourth  verse  of  the  seventh  chapter  of  Corinthi- 
ans distinctly  states  that  the  rights  and  duties  of  the  marriage 
relation  should  be  reciprocal,  granting  no  exclusive  privilege 
to  either.  Is  not  this  reciprocity  necessarily  and  entirely 
destroyed,  when  the  husband  brings  other  wives  into  the 
family  ? 

In  the  face  of  the  direct  and  positive  teachings  of  Jesus 
and  his  Apostles,  the  "  Latter-Day  Saints  "  of  Utah,  or  rather 
their  leaders,  have  instituted  the  heathenish  and  horrible 
practice  of  polygamy.  And  to  add  to  the  blasphemy  of  the 
scheme,  it  is  all  done  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.  In  this 
nineteenth  century,  they  have  reduced  women  to  the  heathen 
and  Jewish  standard. 

Foremost  in  the  ranks  of  their  oppressors  stands  Brigham 
Young.  Following  in  the  footsteps  of  Mohammed,  he  declares 
that  women  have  no  souls,  —  that  they  are  not  responsible 
beings,  that  they  cannot  save  themselves,  nor  be  saved,  ex- 


238  POLYGAMY. 

cept  through  man's  intervention.  To  be  saved,  a  woman 
must  be  "  sealed  "  to  a  good  man,  —  he  can  save  her ;  or,  if 
he  does  not,  her  sins  will  be  upon  his  head.  Under  this  sys- 
tem, woman  was  created  expressly  for  the  glory  of  man ; 
hence  the  more  women  and  children  a  man  has,  the  more 
glory. 

This  doctrine  is  openly  put  forth  in  the  most  disgusting 
form. 

Said  Brigham,  in  a  public  discourse,  Sept.  20th,  1856, — 

"  It  is  the  duty  of  every  righteous  man  and  woman  to  prepare 
tabernacles  for  all  the  spirits  they  can ;  hence  if  my  women  leave, 
I  will  go  and  search  up  others  who  will  abide  the  celestial  law, 
and  let  all  I  now  have  go  where  they  please." 

And  in  accordance  with  the  same  view,  he  publicly  pro- 
claimed that  aft6r  a  certain  day  which  he  named,  all  of  his 
women  who  were  dissatisfied  should  be  free  to  leave  him. 
The  following  is  his  language :  — 

"  Now  for  my  proposition  :  it  is  more  particularly  for  my  sisters, 
as  it  is  frequently  happening  that  women  say  that  they  are  unhappy. 
Men  will  say,  — '  My  wife,  though  a  most  excellent  woman,  has 
not  seen  a  happy  day  since  I  took  my  second  wife.'  '  No,  not  a 
happy  day  for  a  year,'  says  one ;  and  another  has  not  seen  a  happy 
day  for  five  years.  It  is  said  that  women  are  tied  down  and 
abused ;  that  they  are  misused,  and  have  not  the  liberty  that  they 
ought  to  have  ;  that  many  of  them  are  wading  through  a  perfect 
flood  of  tears,  because  of  the  conduct  of  some  men,  together  with 
their  own  folly. 

"  I  wish  my  own  women  to  understand  that  what  I  am  going  to 
say  is  for  them  as  well  as  others,  and  I  want  those  who  are  here 
to  tell  their  sisters,  —  yes,  all  the  women  of  this  community,  — 
and  then  write  it  back  to  the  States,  and  do  as  you  please  with  it. 
I  am  going  to  give  you  from  this  time  to  the  6th  day  of  October 
next  (the  day  the  semi-annual  Conference  was  to  meet)  for  reflec- 
tion, that  you  may  determine  whether  you  wish  to  stay  with  your 
husbands  or  not,  and  then  I  am  going  to  set  every  woman  at  lib- 
erty, and  say  to  them,  '  Now  go  j'our  way,  —  my  women  with  the 
rest,  — go  your  way.'    And  my  wives  have  got  to  do  one  of  two 


POLYGAMY.  239 

things :  either  round  up  tlicir  shoulders  to  endure  the  afflictions  of 
this  world,  and  live  their  religion,  or  they  may  leave,  for  I  will 
not  have  them  about  me.  I  will  go  into  heaven  alone,  rather 
than  have  scratching  and  fighting  around  me.  I  will  set  all  at 
liberty.  '  What,  first  wife  too  ? '  Yes,  I  will  liberate  you  all.  I 
know  what  my  women  will  say.  They  will  say,  '  You  can  have 
as  many  women  as  you  please,  Brigham.'  But  I  want  to  go  some- 
where, and  do  something  to  get  rid  of  the  whiners."  * 

It  does  not  appear  that  these  unhappy  women  availed 
themselves  of  this  opportunity  of  getting  rid  of  their  misery, 
by  being  cast  off  upon  the  world,  in  an  Indian  country, 
nearly  a  thousand  miles  from  civilization. 

It  may  seem  very  strange,  that  so  many  women  are  led 
into  the  snare  of  polygamy.  The  most  specious  arguments 
are  advanced,  and  inducements  held  out,  by  the  wicked  and 
designing  leaders  of  the  Mormon  Church,  to  blind  and  de- 
ceive unsuspecting  and  simple-minded  women.  They  are 
told  that  "  the  laws  of  Christendom  differ  widely  from  those 
of  the  other  three  fourths  of  the  whole  family  of  man  ; "  that 
they  are  the  laws  and  practices  of  "  a  wicked  and  perverse 
generation,"  and  differ  also  from  the  doctrines  taught  in  the 
Bible.  It  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  the  Bible  is  only  quoted 
on  the  subject  of  polygamy.  On  all  other  topics,  the  books 
of  Mormonism  are  used.  These  being,  as  already  shown, 
adverse  to  their  favorite  institution,  resort  is  had  to  the  Old 
Testament  Scriptures. 

Abraham  is  constantly  cited  as  the  great  exemplar  and 
pattern.  It  is  urged  that  the  family  order  observed  by  him 
is  the  order  established  among  celestial  beings,  in  the  celes- 
tial world.  That  God  sanctioned  the  practice,  and  is  himself 
a  polygamist. 

That  many  virtuous  and  high-minded  women  should  infi- 
nitely prefer  to  unite  their  fortunes  to  one  good  man,  rather 
than  to  have  each  a  wicked  husband  who  could  bring  her  no 
exaltation  in  another  world.  "  Shall  such  virtuous  and  inno- 
eent  females,  though  they  may  be  poor,  and  low  in  the  scale 
*  Deseret  News,  October  1, 1856. 


240  POLTGAIMT. 

of  fortune's  partial  smiles,  —  shall  they  be  denied  the  right 
to  choose  the  objects  of  their  love  ?  Must  they,  through  the 
operation  of  hideously  contracted  laws,  be  virtually  doomed 
to  resort  to  infamous  prostitution,  entailing  disease,  infamy, 
and  death  upon  themselves  and  their  offspring,  or  to  marry 
an  inferior  grade  of  corrupt,  vicious  men, —  debauchees, 
gluttons,  drunkards,  and  idlers,  —  or  remain  in  perpetual 
celibacy,  and  frustrate  the  designs  of  their  creation,  and  vio- 
late the  first  and  foremost  command  of  God,  —  to  multiply 
and  replenish  the  earth  ?  " 

They  are  pointed  to  Jacob,  also,  who  had  several  wives, 
and  who  was  the  father  of  the  twelve  patriarchs,  after  whom 
all  the  tribes  of  Israel  were  named.  From  one  of  these 
wives,  Christ  himself  lineally  descended.  Various  other  in- 
stances are  cited  from  the  Jewish  Scriptures,  —  especially 
the  fact  that  the  Lord  gave  unto  David  some  of  the  wives 
of  Saul.  "  Hereby  we  learn  that  God  himself  gives  many 
wives  to  those  who  are  faithful,  and  takes  them  away  from 
transgressors."  The  faith  of  Abraham  was  indorsed  by 
Christ  and  his  Apostles,  and  those  who  have  the  same  foith 
are  called  heirs  of  the  promise.  Hence  an  effort  is  made  to 
bring  the  New  Testament  also  to  the  support  of  polygamy, 
notwithstanding  it  is  so  plainly  condemned  in  that  volume. 
Indeed,  it  is  unblushingly  asserted  that  not  only  the  Apostles 
but  Christ  himself  practised  polygamy !  "  The  grand  rea- 
son," said  J.  M.  Grant,  one  of  the  First  Presidency,  in  a 
discourse  delivered  in  the  Tabernacle  in  Great  Salt  Lake 
City,  "  why  the  gentiles  and  philosophers  of  that  school  per- 
secuted Jesus  Christ,  was  because  he  had  so  many  wives. 
There  were  Elizabeth  and  Mary,  and  a  host  of  others,  who 
followed  him." 

To  Abraham  and  Sarah  was  the  promise  made  —  *'  In  thee 
and  in  thy  seed,  shall  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  be  blessed  " 
The  sisters  are  called  upon  to  follow  the  example  of  Sarah, 
and  to  give  plural  wives  to  their  husbands,  even  as  Sarah 
gave  Hagar  unto  Abraham.   "If  you  suffer  with  her  (Sarah) 


POLYGAMY.  241 

you  shall  reign  uith  her.  You  shall  be  heirs  of  the  same 
promise,  and  crowned  with  glory  in  the  celestial  world." 

By  these  specious  arguments  and  falsehoods,  are  thousands 
lured  on  to  their  destruction.  Oh  !  could  this  volume  reach 
the  eye  of  all  such,  —  as  it  surely  will  of  many,  —  to  them 
I  appeal  to  examine  carefully  the  foundation  of  the  system 
to  which  they  are  committing  themselves.  To  them  I  re- 
spectfully and  earnestly  submit  some  considerations  and  facts 
worthy  of  their  serious  attention,  before  they  enter  irretriev- 
ably upon  their  own  ruin. 

Polygamy,  or  plurality,  so  called,  is  not  only  contrary  to 
the  laws  of  our  country,  which  we  are  all  in  duty  bound  to 
uphold  and  obey,  but  it  is  adverse  to  the  genius  of  our  free 
institutions,  and  is,  moreover,  contrary  to  the  laws  and  in- 
stincts of  our  nature,  and  to  the  suggestions  of  a  sound 
reason. 

In  the  first  place,  is  polygamy  reasonable  or  natural? 

In  pursuing  this  inquiry,  the  first  fact  that  stares  us  in  the 
face  is  the  equality  in  the  numbers  of  the  male  and  female 
sexes,  in  all  countries,  and  in  all  ages  of  the  world.  If 
polygamy  were  the  natui-al  relation  between  the  sexes,  the 
number  of  females  born  into  the  world  Avould  far  exceed  the 
number  of  males.  So  far  from  that  being  the  case,  there  is 
a  larger  number  of  males,  and  the  excess  about  equal  to  the 
greater  loss  of  life,  among  males,  by  wars  and  accidents ; 
thus  leaving  a  substantial  equality  in  the  numbers  of  those 
living. 

The  foUowino;  figures  will  show  the  number  of  males  and 
females  in  the  United  States,  at  the  close  of  each  of  the  last 
five  decades : — 


Tear. 

Males. 

Females. 

Excess  of 
Males. 

Per  cent, 
of  Excess. 

1820 

4,898,127 

4,740,004 

158,123 

3.2 

1830 
1840 

1850 

6,529,696 

8,688,532 

11,837,661 

6,336,324 
8,380,921 
11,354,215 

193,372 
307,611 
483,446 

3 

3.5 

4.1 

1860 

16,086,059 
16 

15,359,021 

727,038 

4.5 

,  242  POLYGAMY. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen,  that  nature  has  made  no  provision 
for  the  practice  of  polygamy  in  this  country.  On  the  con- 
trary, there  has  continually  been  an  excess  of  the  male  pop- 
ulation. This  fact  is  owing,  in  part,  to  the  large  excess  of 
males  in  the  immigration  from  foreign  countries- 
Let  us  pursue  this  subject  a  little  farther.  In  1851,  the 
population  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  was,  —  males,  13,- 
537,052  ;  females,  14,082,814.  Excess  of  females,  3  per  cent. 
But  emigration,  and  the  heavy  wars  in  which  that  country 
had  been  engaged,  had  been  draining  off  the  male  population 
for  many  years  previous. 

In  Prussia,  in  1849,  there  were  then  living,  —  males,  8,162, 
805  ;  females,  8,1 62,382. 

The  mortality  of  males  is  greater  than  that  of  females. 
To  compensate  for  this,  more  males  are  born. 

In  England,  the  excess  of  male  births  is  5  per  cent.  ;  iu 
France  and  Russia,  6  per  cent.  ;  in  the  United  States,  from 
5  to  12  per  cent.,  according  to  the  locality. 

If,  now,  we  turn  our  attention  to  the  Territory  of  Utah, 
•we  shall  find  a  similar  state  of  facts.  By  reference  to  the 
United  States  Census  of  1850,  it  will  appear  that  there  was, 
at  that  time,  an  excess  of  males  in  every  county  in  the  Ter- 
ritory, amounting,  in  the  aggregate,  to  712;  the  total  num- 
ber of  males  being  6,046,  and  of  females,  5,334.  The  na- 
tional census  of  1860  shows  the  following  result :  males, 
20,255,  —  females,  20,018. 

There  lias  always  been  in  this  Territory,  as  there  is  in 
every  new  country,  a  scarcity  of  females.  No  person,  there- 
fore, could  take  more  than  one  wife,  without,  as  a  necessary 
consequence,  compelling  some  other  person  to  live  without 
any. 

This  subject  is  placed  in  a  still  stronger  light,  by  reference 
to  the  report  of  the  Territorial  Superintendent  of  Common 
Schools,  dated  January  14, 1863,  and  published  in  the  "  Des- 
eret  News,"  Vol.  XII.  No.  31. 

By  that  report  it  appears  that  the  number  of  boys  between 


POLYGAMY.  243 

the  ages  of  six  and  eighteen,  is  greater  than  the  number  of 
girls  between  four  and  sixteen,  in  every  county  in  the  Terri- 
tory but  one.  The  total,  so  far  as  the  Superintendent  had 
been  able  to  obtain  reports,  is  as  follows:  — 

Number  of  boys  between  six  and  eighteen 3950 

Number  of  girls  between  four  and  sixteen 3662 

Showing  an  excess  of  boys,  to  the  number  of 288 

The  thanks  of  the  public  are  due  to  Mr.  Campbell,  for 
bringing  to  light  facts  having  so  important  a  bearing  on  this 
subject. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  in  this  Territory,  as  well  as  in 
all  other  parts  of  the  country,  has  nature  failed  to  make 
any  provision  for  the  practice  of  polygamy.  On  the  con- 
trary, ever  true  to  herself,  even  now,  after  polygamy  has  been 
practised  over  ten  years,  dui-ing  which  time  it  has  been 
openly  encouraged,  nature  is  reestablishing  her  own  laws, 
and  maintaining  the  substantial  equality  in  the  numbers  of 
the  sexes ;  thus  placing  the  seal  of  condemnation  on  this 
practice,  and  saying,  in  the  plainest  language,  "  Let  every 
man  have  his  own  wife,  and  let  every  woman  have  her  own 
husband." 

In  considering  whether  polygamy  is  reasonable  or  natural, 
other  arguments  present  themselves. 

This  practice  tends  necessarily  to  the  degradation  of  woman. 
Instead  of  being  a  companion  of  man,  socially  his  equal,  sym- 
pathizing with  his  moral  and  intellectual  nature,  and  sharing 
in  all  his  pursuits  and  enjoyments,  she  becomes,  under  this 
system,  merely  the  minister  to  his  passions  and  physical  com- 
fort, or  the  servant  to  assist  in  the  increase  of  his  worldly 
store. 

It  is  impossible  that  several  women  should  live  on  terms 
of  such  intimacy  with  the  same  man,  all  at  the  same  time 
on  a  social  equality  with  him  and  with  each  other.  The  idea 
of  plurality  necessitates  that  of  subordination  and  inferiority. 
Kales  must  be  established  and  observed,  to  insure  even  the 


244  POLYGAMY. 

appearance  of  harmony.  Eut  this  necessary  assumption  of 
superiority  and  power,  on  the  part  of  the  man,  at  once  mars, 
if  it  does  not  destroy,  all  the  finer  and  holier  of  the  marriage 
relations.  The  husband  loses  respect  for  her  who  sits  at  his 
feet,  rather  than  by  his  side.  A  full  and  perfect  communion 
of  thought  and  feeling  ceases  to  exist.  A  sense  of  inferiority 
on  tlie  part  of  the  wife  blunts  her  pride  and  ambition,  and 
renders  her  careless  of  intellectual  and  moral  progress,  and 
insensible  to  many  of  the  highest  and  noblest  duties  of  her 
sex.  She  gradually  conforms  herself  to  her  position,  how- 
ever hard  it  may  be  at  first  to  do  so,  and  thus  her  place  in 
the  social  scale  is  lowered. 

It  need  scarcely  be  asked  whether  this  is  an  evih  Both 
reason  and  history  answer  the  question  plainly  in  the  affirm- 
ative. In  all  ages  of  the  world,  the  most  enlightened  and 
prosperous  nations  have  been  those  who  sought  to  refine 
and  elevate  woman  by  the  practice  of  monogamy,  or  the 
one-wife  system.  Witness  Egypt,  Greece,  and  Eome,  among 
the  ancient  nations ;  and  among  the  moderns,  the  United 
States,  Great  Britain,  France,  and  other  European  countries. 

A  reference  to  those  nations  will  also  illustrate  and  prove 
the  remark  already  made,  that  the  practice  of  polygamy  is 
adverse  to  free  institutions.  In  all  countries  where  the  most 
freedom  has  prevailed,  has  monogamy  existed,  —  a  coinci- 
dence so  remarkable  as  to  authorize  the  deduction  that  the 
relation  of  cause  and  effect  exists  between  these  facts.  The 
love  of  home  is  intimately  associated  with  the  love  of  coun- 
try and  of  liberty,  and  whatever  tends  to  ix'fine  and  purify 
the  former  will  inevitably  exalt  and  strengthen  the  latter. 

Again :  polygamy  tends  to  destroy  the  unity  and  sanctity 
of  home,  by  permitting  a  man  to  have  families  in  different 
places  at  the  same  time.  "  The  supposition,"  says  an  emi- 
nent jurist,  "that  a  man  can  have  two  domicils,  would  lead 
to  the  absurdest  consequences."  Hence  such  an  idea  has 
always  been  rejected  in  courts  of  justice.  And  yet  this  very 
thing  is  attempted  in  Utah,  where  it  is  not  uncommon  to 


POLYGAMY.  245 

have  different  families  of  wives  and  children  located  some- 
times many  miles  apart.  Indeed,  one  of  the  Twelve  Apos- 
tles has  families  scattered  all  along  between  Salt  Lake  City 
and  the  southern  boundary  of  the  Territory,  —  a  distance 
of  over  three  hundred  miles. 

Polygamy  requires  a  law  of  descent  peculiar  to  itself,  and 
this  law,  differing,  as  it  necessarily  must,  from  that  in  force 
in  all  the  surrounding  States  and  Territories,  leads  to  endless 
difficulty  and  confusion  in  the  titles  to  property. 

The  evils  of  polygamy  are  aggravated  by  the  fact  that  the 
consent  of  the  first  wife  is  not  made  necessary  to  the  union 
of  the  husband  with  subsequent  ones.  The  prevailing  doc- 
trine on  this  subject  is  authoritatively  stated  in  the  following 
words :  — 

"  When  a  man  who  has  a  wife,  teaches  her  the  law  of  God,  as 
revealed  to  the  ancient  patriarchs,  and  as  manifested  by  new  rev- 
elation, and  she  refuses  to  give  her  consent  for  him  to  marry  an- 
other according  to  that  law,  then  it  becomes  necessary  for  her  to 
state  before  the  President  the  reasons  why  she  withholds  her  con- 
sent ;  if  her  reasons  are  sufficient  and  justifiable,  and  the  husband 
is  found  in  the  fault,  or  in  transgression,  then  he  is  not  permitted 
to  take  any  step  in  regard  to  obtaining  another.  But  if  the  wife 
can  show  no  good  reason  why  she  refuses  to  comply  with  the  law 
which  was  given  unto  Sarah  of  old,  then  it  is  lawful  for  her  hus- 
band, if  permitted  by  revelation  through  the  Prophet,  to  be  mar- 
ried to  others  without  her  consent,  and  he  will  be  justified,  and 
she  will  be  condemned,  because  she  did  not  give  them  unto  him, 
as  Sarah  gave  Hagar  to  Abraham,  and  as  Rachel  and  Leah  gave 
Bilhah  and  Zilpah  to  their  husband  Jacob."  * 

In  the  case  last  supposed,  in  the  foregoing  extract,  if  the 
marriage  ceremony  is  performed  in  the  usual  manner,  the  first 
wife  is  obliged  to  stand  between  her  husband  and  the  hated 
bride,  and  falsely  admit  that  she  gives  her  consent,  when  asked 
if  she  "  is  willing  to  give  this  woman  to  her  husband  to  be  his 
lawful  and  wedded  wife,  for  time  and  for  all  eternity." 

The  result  of  such  a  state  of  things  is  what  might  be  ex- 
*   The  Seer,  Vol.  I.  p.  41. 


246  POLYGAMY. 

pected.  Jealousies,  strifes,  and  heart-burnings  ari.-e,  result- 
ing in  most  cases  in  the  breaking-up  of  the  family,  or  the 
casting-off  of  the  less  congenial  elements. 

It  is  useless  to  deny  these  results.  The  facts  are  too  patent 
to  admit  of  any  dispute.  The  alarming  frequency,  and  I 
may  say  recklessness,  with  which  divorces  are  applied  for 
and  granted,  is  a  fact  familiar  to  all,  and  can  only  be  traced 
to  the  causes  just  stated,  unless,  indeed,  we  should  —  as  I 
am  unwilling  to  do  —  impute  it  to  the  promptings  of  caprice 
and  passion.  Having  resided  in  the  Territory  nearly  two 
years,  it  would  be  impossible  for  me,  unless  I  had,  in  the 
mean  time,  shut  my  eyes  to  what  was  going  on  around  me, 
to  be  ignorant  of  the  state  of  things  to  which  I  have  briefly 
alluded. 

It  has  been  urged  as  an  argument  in  favor  of  polygamy, 
that  it  tends  to  lessen  the  evils  of  prostitution.  Even  if  this 
were  true,  the  argument  would  have  no  validity,  if  at  the 
same  time  that  this  evil  is  abated  or  sxippressed,  others  are 
introduced,  more  serious,  lasting,  and  wide-spread  in  their 
influence  upon  society,  our  country,  and  the  world.  But  it 
never  has  been  clearly  shown  that  polygamy  has  such  an 
effect.  The  argument  is  made  by  comparing  the  most  fa\or- 
able  localities  where  polygamy  prevails  with  the  most  un- 
favorable monogamic  districts ;  for  instance,  with  the  large 
cities  of  the  United  States.  But  it  remains  to  be  seen  what 
condition  any  one  of  those  cities  would  be  in,  with  polygamy 
in  full  blast ;  and  until  it  be  showm  that  its  condition  would 
be  improved,  the  argument  remains  of  but  little  force. 

Another  argument  in  favor  of  polygamy,  perhaps  worthy 
of  notice,  is,  that  it  tends  to  a  more  rapid  increase  of  popula- 
tion. Admitting  the  object  is  a  desirable  one,  it  has  not  been 
shown  that  it  can  be  attained  in  that  way.  As  has  been 
remarked  by  an  able  writer,  the  question  is,  not  whether  ten 
men  would  not  have  more  children  by  forty  women  than  by 
ten ;  but  whether  the  forty  women  would  not  have  more 
children,  each  woman  having  "  her  own  husband," 


POLYGAMY.  247 

Some  other  reasons  have  been  given  in  justification  of  po- 
lygamy, which  I  consider  too  absurd  to  require  even  a  pass- 
ing notice. 

In  a  former  chapter,  the  so-called  Revelation  on  Celestial 
Marriage  has  been  given,  and  it  was  there  shown  that  po- 
lygamy was  an  innovation  upon  the  Mormon  religion. 

I  desire  now  to  call  the  attention  of  the  women  of  Utah 
to  a  few  observations  on  the  nature  of  this  pretended  revela- 
tion, and  the  circumstances  under  which  it  was  given  to  the 
woi'ld. 

1.  It  was,  even  if  given  as  assumed,  kept  secret  for  nine 
years.  Polygamy  was  privately  practised  by  the  leaders  of 
the  church  for  several  years,  during  which  time,  according 
to  Brigham's  admission,  it  was  not  "  preached  by  the  Elders," 
and  was  thei'efore  studiously  concealed  from  new  converts. 
Indeed,  not  only  was  it  "  not  preached,"  but  it  was  strongly 
denounced  during  the  same  period. 

On  the  first  of  February,  1844,  the  following  notice  ap- 
peared in  the  "  Times  and  Seasons,"  the  church  organ,  pub- 
lished at  Nauvoo. 

"  NOTICE. 

"  As  we  have  lately  been  credibly  informed,  that  an  Elder  of 
the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-Day  Saints,  by  the  name  of 
Hiram  Brown,  has  been  preaching  Polygamy,  and  other  false  and 
corrupt  doctrines,  in  the  County  of  Lapeer,  and  State  of  Michigan : 
"  This  is  to  notify  him  and  the  church  in  general,  that  he  has 
been  cut  off  from  the  church  for  his  iniquity  ;  and  he  is  fin-ther 
notified  to  appear  at  the  Special  Conference,  on  the  6  th  of  April 
next,  to  make  answer  to  these  charges. 

"  Joseph  Smith, 

"  Hyrum  Smith, 

"  Presidents  of  the  Church."  * 

This  was  seven  months  after  the  time  when,  according  to 
Brigham  Young  and  his  associates,  the  Revelation  concerning 
Celestial  Marriage  had  been  given  to  Smith.     But  here  both 

*  Times  and  Seasons,  Vol.  V.  p.  423. 


248  POLYGAMY. 

Joseph  andHyrum  Smith  call  polygamy  a  "false  and  corrapt 
doctrine."  Can  any  true  follower  of  Smith,  or  believer  in  his 
divine  mission,  believe  for  a  moment,  in  the  face  of  this  dec- 
laration, that  Smith  had  received  any  revelation  on  the  12th 
of  July,  1843,  sanctioning  polygamy  ? 

Again,  six  weeks  later,  liyrum  Smith  wrote  as  follows :  — 

"  Nauvoo,  March  15, 1844. 

"  To  the  Brethren  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-Day 
Saints,  living  on  China  Creek,  in  Hancock  County,  Greeting : 

"  Whereas,  Brother  Richard  Hewett  has  called  on  me  to-day,  to 
know  my  views  concerning  some  doctrines  that  are  preached  in 
your  place,  and  states  to  me  that  some  of  your  Elders  say,  that  a 
man  having  a  certain  priesthood,  may  have  as  many  wives  as  he 
pleases,  and  that  doctrine  is  taught  here ;  I  say  unto  you,  that  that 
man  teaches /aZse  doctrine,  for  there  is  no  such  doctrine  taught  Iiere, 
neither  is  there  any-such  thing  practised  here;  and  any  man  that 
is  found  teaching  privately  or  publicly  any  such  doctrine,  is  culpa- 
ble, and  will  stand  a  chance  to  be  brought  before  the  High  Council, 
and  lose  his  license  and  membership  also ;  therefore  he  had  better 
beware  what  he  is  about."  * 

Polygamy  was  condemned  at  the  General  Conferences  of 
the  European  churches,  in  England,  during  the  year  1846, 
and  subsequently. 

In  July,  1845,  Parley  P.  Pratt,  in  the  "  Millennial  Star," 
published  at  Liverpool,  had  denounced  the  "  Spiritual- Wife 
doctrine  of  J.  C.  Bennett,"  —  which  was  one  of  the  earliest 
manifestations  of  polygamy  in  the  church,  —  as  a  "doctrine  of 
devils  "  and  of  "  seducing  spirits,"  using  this  language  :  "  It 
is  but  another  name  for  whoredom,  wicked  and  unlawful  con- 
nection, and  every  kind  of  confusion,  corruption,  and  abomi- 
nation." t 

In  May,  1848,  Orson  Spencer,  then  editor  of  the  "  Star,' 
used  the  following  language :  — 

"  In  all  ages  of  the  church  truth  has  been  turned  into  a  lie,  and 

•  Times  and  Seasons,  Vol.  V.  p.  474. 
t  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  VI.  p.  22. 


POLYGAMY.  249 

the  grace  of  God  converted  Into  lasciviousness,  by  men  who  have 
Bought  to  make  '  a  gain  '  of  godHness,  and  feed  their  hists  on  the 
creduhty  of  the  righteous  and  unsuspicious.  .  .  .  Next  to  the 
long-hackneyed  and  bugaboo  -whisperings  of  polygism,  is  another 
abomination  that  sometimes  shows  its  serpentine  crests,  which  we 
shall  call  sexual  resurrectionism.  .  .  .  The  doctrines  of  corrupt 
spirits  are  always  in  close  affinity  with  each  other,  whether  they 
consist  in  spiritual  wife-ism,  sexual  resurrection,  gross  lascivious- 
ness, or  the  unavoidable  separation  of  husbands  and  wives,  or  the 
communism  of  property."  * 

In  July,  1850,  at  a  discussion  held  at  Boulogne,  France, 
John  Taylor,  a  well-known  Mormon  Apostle,  when  charged 
with  the  belief  and  practice  of  this  doctrine,  said :  —  "  We 
are  accused  here  of  polygamy,  and  actions  the  most  indeli- 
cate, obscene,  and  disgusting,  such  that  none  but  a  corrupt 
and  depraved  heart  could  have  contrived.  These  things  are 
too  outrageous  to  admit  of  belief.  Therefore,  leaving  the 
sisters  of  the  '  White  Veil,'  the  '  Black  Veil,'  and  all  the 
other  veils,  with  those  gentlemen  to  dispose  of,  together  with 
their  authors,  as  they  think  best,  I  shall  content  myself  by 
reading  our  views  of  chastity  and  marriage,  from  a  work 
published  by  us,  containing  some  of  the  articles  of  our  fjiith."  f 
He  then  read  from  the  Book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants,  the 
article  on  mariiage,  already  quoted  from. 

Here  we  have  the  following  facts  :  — 

In  1830  the  Mormon  Church  organized,  and  the  Book  of 
]Mormon  was  published,  in  which  polygamy  is  strongly  con- 
demned. 

In  1831,  the  same  doctrine  condemned,  in  a  revelation  to 
Joseph  Smith,  which  was  afterward  published  in  the  Book 
of  Doctrine  and  Covenants. 

In  July,  18-43,  the  revelation  in  favor  of  polygamy,  said 
to  have  been  given  to  Joseph  Smith. 

In  February,  1844,  polygamy  publicly  denounced  by 
Joseph  and  Hyrum  Smith. 

*  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  X.  p.  137. 

t  Taylor's  Discussion  at  Boulogne,  p.  8. 


250  POLYGAMY. 

In  March,  1844,  the  same  practice  again  denounced  by 
Hyrum  Smith. 

In  June,  1844,  the  death  of  Smith. 

In  1845,  the  publication  of  the  article  on  Marriage,  in  the 
Appendix  to  tlie  Book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants,  in  wliich 
polygamy  is  called  a  "  crime,"  and  is  again  strongly  con- 
demned and  repudiated.  The  same  year  the  Spiritual-Wife 
doctrine  of  J.  C.  Bennett,  denounced  by  P.  P.  Pratt,  in 
England. 

In  1846,  polygamy  condemned  at  the  Conferences  of  the 
European  Mormon  churches  in  England. 

In  1848,  "polygism"  and  "sexual  resurrectionism  "  se- 
verely denounced  in  tlie  "  Millennial  Star,"  published  in 
Liverpool. 

In  1850,  polygamy  denounced  and  repudiated  by  Apostle 
John  Taylor,  in  France. 

And  yet,  in  the  face  of  all  these  facts,  in  1852,  we  have 
the  same  doctrine  publicly  given  to  the  church,  accompanied 
by  the  announcement,  that  it  had  been  believed  and  prac- 
tised by  the  church  for  many  years. 

Now,  it  will  not  be  pretended  by  any  one,  that  polygamy 
was  any  part  of  the  Mormon  religion  previous  to  1843. 

Take,  then,  the  period  from  1843  to  1852.  How  was  it 
during  those  nine  years  ?  AVhich  shall  be  taken  as  evidence 
of  what  was  tlie  teaching  of  the  Mormon  religion,  on  that 
subject,  during  that  time  ?  The  Book  of  Doctrine  and  Cov- 
enants, tlie  Notices  published  by  Joseph  and  Hyrum  Smith, 
the  declarations  of  Pratt  and  Spencer,  the  action  of  the 
churches  in  England,  and  the  assertions  of  Taylor  in  France, 
or  the  announcement  made  in  Great  Salt  Lake  City  in  1852  ? 
Are  we  not,  at  least,  as  much  authorized  to  take  the  former  as 
the  latter  ? 

If  the  Book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants,  the  writings  of 
Joseph  and  Hyrum,  the  continued  and  persistent  declarations 
of  the  Mormon  leaders,  and  the  action  of  the  Mormon 
churches  be  taken,  then  polygamy  Avas  no  part  of  Mormon- 


POLYGAMY.  251 

ism  up  to  1852.  And  if  not  previous  to  that  time,  it  was  not 
afterward,  for  Young  did  not  pretend  to  give  it  at  tliat  time 
as  a  new  revelation,  but  rested  the  doctrine  entirely  on  the 
revelation  said  to  have  been  given  to  Joseph  in  1843. 

2.  A  singular  feature  of  this  revelation  is,  that  in  it  God 
is  made  expressly  to  contradict  what  he  is  represented  as 
having  said  in  the  Book  of  Mormon. 

According  to  the  Book  of  Mormon,  as  already  quoted, 
God  said  the  polygamy  and  concubinage  of  David  and  Solo- 
mon were  abominable  before  him.  The  following  is  the  lan- 
guage :  "  Behold  David  and  Solomon  truly  had  many  wives 
and  concubines,  which  thing  was  abominable  before  me,  saith 
the  Lord." 

This  was  the  testimony  of  the  Almighty,  as  to  the  man- 
ner in  which  he  viewed  the  conduct  of  David  and  Solomon, 
up  to  July,  1843,  when  he  is  represented  in  this  revelation 
as  indorsing  those  very  acts  which,  in  the  Book  of  Mormon, 
he  had  so  strongly  condemned. 

3.  Again:  This  revelation  classes  Isaac  and  Moses  with 
Abraham,  Jacob,  David,  and  Solomon,  as  polygamists  ;  when 
in  fact  neither  Isaac  nor  Moses  ever  practised  polygamy. 
How  could  the  All-wise  Being  make  such  a  mistake  ? 

4.  The  most  remarkable  circumstance  connected  with  this 
revelation  remains  to  be  considered,  —  It  was  in  direct  con- 
tradiction to  the  laws  of  the  land. 

At  that  time,  July  12,  1843,  Smith  resided  at  Nauvoo, 
Illinois,  and  was,  of  course,  together  with  all  the  other  inhab- 
itants of  that  city,  amenable  to  the  laws  of  Illinois. 

The  following  statute  was  then  in  force  in  that  State,  the 
same  having  been  passed  February  12,  1833  :  — 

"  Sec.  121.  Bigamy  consists  in  the  having  of  two  wives  or  two 
husbands  at  one  and  the  same  time,  knowing  that  the  former  hus- 
band or  wife  is  still  alive.  If  any  person  or  persons  within  this 
State,  being  married,  or  who  shall  hereafter  marry,  do  at  any  time 
many  any  person  or  persons,  the  former  husband  or  wife  being 
alive,  the  pei-son  so  offending  shall,  on  conviction  thereof,  be  pun- 


252  POLYGAMY. 

ished  by  a  fine  not  exceeding  one  thousand  dollars,  and  imprison- 
ment in  the  penitentiary  not  exceeding  two  years."  [The  remain- 
der of  this  section  relates  to  evidence,  and  prescribes  certain  ex- 
emptions.] 

"  Sec.  122.  If  any  man  or  woman,  being  unmarried,  shall 
knowingly  marry  the  husband  or  wife  of  another,  such  man  or 
woman  shall,  on  conviction,  be  fined  not  more  than  five  hundred 
dollars,  or  imprisoned  not  more  than  one  year."  * 

In  the  face  of  this  law,  whicli  Avas  then  in  full  force,  the 
revelation  to  Smith  declares  :  "  If  any  man  espouse  a  virgin, 
and  desire  to  espouse  another,  and  the  first  give  her  consent ; 
and  if  he  espouse  the  secon*'',  and  they  are  virgins,  and  have 
vowed  to  no  other  man,  then  is  he  justified."  f  Thus  justi- 
fying the  violation  of  both  sections  of  the  law.  People  may 
well  hesitate,  before  believing  in  the  authenticity  of  such  a 
revelation. 

Here,  again,  God  is  made  to  contradict  himself;  for  not 
only  in  the  Christian  but  in  the  Mormon  Bible,  He  is  repre- 
sented as  enjoining  upon  His  disciples  to  obey  the  laws  and 
civil  authorities.  The  Book  of  JNIormon  abounds  in  such 
teachings.  The  Book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants  is  to  the 
same  effect :  — 

"  We  believe  that  every  man  should  be  honored  in  his  station  ; 
rulers  and  magistrates  as  such  being  placed  for  the  protection  of 
the  innocent  and  the  punishment  of  the  guilty ;  and  that  to  the 
laws  all  men  owe  respect  and  deference,  as  without  them  peace 
and  harmony  would  be  supplanted  by  anarchy  and  terror."  J 

Here,  again,  I  may  quote  from  Mr.  Orson  Pratt,  whose 
writings  have  been  freely  used,  as  of  high  authority  in  "  the 
church." 

"  "Would  it  be  right  for  the  Latter  Day  Saints  to  marry  a  plu- 

*  Illinois  Laws  0/1833,  p.  198.  See  also  Gales'  Revised  Statutes  of  1839, 
p.  220,  and  Revised  Statutes  of  1845,  p.  173,  the  same  law  having  been  re- 
enacted  in  1845. 

I  Revelntion,  Sec.  24. 

{  Book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants,  p.  332. 


POLYGAMY.  253 

rality  of  wives  in  any  of  the  States  or  Territories,  or  nations, 
■where  such  practices  are  prohibited  by  the  laws  of  man  ?  We 
answer,  No ;  it  would  not  be  right ;  for  we  are  commanded  to  be 
subject  to  the  powers  that  be."  * 

Since,  then,  it  was  not  right  to  violate  the  laws  of  the 
land,  then  in  force  in  Illinois  on  this  subject,  how  came  God 
to  give  a  revelation  sanctioning  such  a  violation  of  the  State 
law  ?  And  that  too,  without  making,  in  the  revelation,  the 
least  allusion  to  the  law  which  was  to  be  so  grossly  violated? 

Again  :  Who  was  authorized  to  keep  this  revelation  secret, 
no  secrecy  being  enjoined  in  the  revelation  itself? 

But  enough  concerning  this  extraordinary  document.  It 
seems'  strange,  indeed,  that  any  reasonable  man  or  woman  can 
look  upon  this  so-called  revelation,  announced  under  such 
suspicious  circumstances,  and  involved  in  so  many  contradic- 
tions, as  a  sufficient  authority  or  excuse  for  the  establishment 
of  a  custom  which  would  overturn  our  most  cherished  social 
institutions,  and  throw  us  at  once  back  thousands  of  years  in 
civilization. 

The  conclusion  would  not  be  changed  if  it  were  admitted 
that  the  doctrine  of  celestial  marriage  is  a  part  of  the  Mor- 
mon religion  J  for  that  has  nothing  to  do  with  polygamy.  On 
the  contrary,  this  doctrine  is  expressly  founded  upon  the 
relation  between  Adam  and  Eve  before  the  fall.  The  follow- 
ing is  the  language  :  — 

"  The  first  marriage  we  have  on  record  is  that  of  our  first 
parents.  .  .  .  Here  was  a  marriage  in  which  the  Lord  in  person 
officiated, —  a  marriage  between  two  immortal  beings.  .  .  . 
He  joined  them  in  one,  as  one  flesh,  to  be  indissolubly  united, 
while  eternal  ages  should  roll  on,  or  God  himself  endure.  .  .  . 
Did  death  tear  asunder  husband  and  wife,  divorce  that  which  God 
pad  joined  together  as  '  one  flesh,'  immortal  and  eternal  in  its 
nature  ?  The  atonement  of  Christ  will  repair  the  breach,  will 
restore  the  immortal  Eve  to  the  immortal  Adam,  will  join  them 
again  as  one  flesh,  never  more  to  be  separated,  and  will  again  let 
the  lawful  husband  enjoy  the  society  of  his  lawful  wife.  .  .  . 
*  The  Seer,  Vol.  I.  p.  111. 


254  POLYGAMY. 

"  Therefore,  if  the  children  have  been  married  for  etemitj',  as 
well  as  for  time,  by  the  authority  of  God,  the  same  as  their  first 
parents  were,  they  will,  with  them,  raise  up,  after  the  resurrec- 
tion, an  endless  posterity  of  immortal  beings.  .  .  .  But  those 
who  do  not,  in  this  life,  enter  into  the  eternal  covenant  of  mar- 
riage, after  the  pattern  set  by  the  first  immortal  pair,  can  never 
obey  the  first  great  command."  * 

The  foregoing  extracts  convey  a  very  intelligible  idea  of 
this  doctrine ;  and  from  them  it  will  be  seen  it  is  founded 
entirely  upon  the  relation  between  Adam  and  Eve.  Tho&e 
who  would  enjoy  the  blessings  of  celestial  marriage,  must, 
"  in  this  life,  enter  into  the  eternal  covenant  of  marriage, 
after  the  pattern  set  by  the  first  immortal  pair."  What  was 
that  pattern  ?  Adam  and  Eve  were  monogamists.  Adam 
lived  with  the  wife  of  his  youth,  and  had  no  other,  for  nine 
hundred  and  thirty  years,  and  according  to  Pratt,  he  is  to 
live  with  the  same  woman,  in  the  same  capacity,  throughout 
all  the  ages  of  eternity.  Surely  he  must  be  very  astute  who 
can  discover  in  this  "  pattern  "  any  sanction  for  polygamy. 

I  might  enlarge,  indefinitely,  upon  the  arguments  against 
polygamy.  I  might  go  into  the  Jewish  and  Christian  Scrip- 
tures, and  show  that  it  had  been,  in  many  ways,  condemned 
by  the  Almighty.  That  not  only  had  Adam  been  limited  to 
one  wife  at  the  creation,  but  when  the  world  was  destroyed 
by  a  flood,  one  wife  only  to  each  man  was  taken  into  the 
ark ;  —  that  God  blessed  Abraham's  posterity  through  the 
issue  of  his  first  and  lawful  wife,  and  in  order  to  do  that, 
worked  a  miracle  upon  Sarah ;  thus  sanctioning  monogamy 
in  the  strongest  manner  possible.  I  might  refer  to  the 
warning  of  Malachi :  "  Take  heed  to  your  spirit,  and  let 
none  deal  treacherously  with  the  wife  of  his  youth."  I 
might  refer  to  the  fact  that  Lamech,  the  first  polygamist, 
was  a  murderer ;  and  that  the  most  prominent  polygamists  of 
old  were  men  guilty  of  the  most  heinous  crimes.  And  turn- 
ing from  the  Old  Testament  to  the  New,  I  might  quote  the 
*  The  Seer,  Vol.  I.  pp.  43-47. 


POLYGAMY.  255 

words  of  Paul,  —  "  To  avoid  fornication,  let  every  man  have 
his  own  wife,  and  let  every  woman  have  her  own  husband  ; " 
and  the  words  of  Christ,  —  "  From  the  begiuqing  of  creation, 
God  made  them  male  and  female.  For  this  cause  shall  a 
man  leave  his  father  and  mother,  and  cleave  to  his  wife  ;  and 
they  twain  shall  be  one  flesh." 

But  I  choose  to  pass  over  all  these  things,  and  for  my 
present  purpose  rest  the  moral  character  of  this  practice 
upon  the  assertion,  already  quoted  from  the  Book  of  Mor- 
mon, that  the  polygamy  and  concubinage  of  David  and  Sol- 
omon were  abominable  before  God.  No  Mormon  can  gainsay 
this  testimony. 

In  conclusion,  to  review  what  has  been  said.  I  have  en- 
deavored to  show  that  polygamy  is  unreasonable,  and  con- 
trary to  the  plain  provi^ions  and  teachings  of  Nature  ;  that  it 
tends  to  degrade  woman,  and  to  confuse  and  break  up  the 
family  relation,  thus  weakening  the  attachment  to  home  and 
country.  Other  evils  consequent  upon  this  system  have  been 
pointed  out.  The  arguments  by  which  it  is  supported  have 
been  examined,  and  have  been  shown  to  be  weak  or  invalid. 

A  word  further  as  to  the  case  of  Abraham  and  Sarah. 
Did  God  sanction  the  polygamy  of  Abraham  ? 

"  Now  Sarai,  Abram's  wife,  bare  him  no  children ;  and 
she  had  a  handmaid,  an  Egyptian,  whose  name  was  Hagar. 
And  Sarai  said  unto  Abram,  'Behold  now  the  Lord  hath 
restrained  me  from  bearing:  I  pray  thee  go  in  unto  my 
maid ;  it  may  be  that  I  may  obtain  children  by  her.'  "  From 
this  it  appears  that  Sarah,  and  not  God,  was  the  author  of 
Abraham's  polygamy.  She  had  lost  all  hope  of  having  chil- 
dren herself,  and  was  willing  to  adopt  those  of  her  hand- 
maid. Hagar  being  her  slave,  she  intended  to  own  her  chil- 
dren. She  soon,  however,  perceived  her  fatal  error.  Hagar 
wished  to  assume  the  rights  and  privileges  of  a  wife.  This 
Sarah  would  not  listen  to  for  a  moment. 

Hagar  despised  her  mistress,  and  Sarah  appealed  to  Abra- 
ham.    Abraham  said,  "  Behold  thy  maid  is  in  thy  hand,  do 


256  POLYGAMY. 

unto  her  as  it  pleaseth  thee."  "And  Sarah  dealt  hardly 
with  her,  and  she  fled  from  her  face."  Isaac  was  born.  The 
Bon  of  Hagar  was  seen  mocking,  and  Sarah  desired  Abra- 
ham to  cast  hira  out.  "And  the  thing  was  grievous  in 
Abraham's  sight,  because  of  his  son.  And  God  said  unto 
Abraham,  '  Let  it  not  be  grievous  in  thy  sight,  because  of 
the  lad,  and  because  of  thy  bond-woman  ;  in  all  that  Sarah 
hath  said  unto  thee,  hearken  unto  her  voice ;  for  in  Isaac 
shall  thy  seed  be  called.' " 

Again  :  "  God  tempted  Abraham,  saying,  '  Take  now  thy 
son,  thine  only  son,  Isaac,'  "  &c.  And  again  :  "  Thou  hast  not 
withheld  thy  son,  thi7ie  only  son."  For  this  reason  God 
blessed  Abraham,  and  said,  "  In  blessing  I  will  bless  thee, 
and  in  multiplying  I  will  multiply  thy  seed  as  the  stars  of 
the  heaven,  or  the  sands  on  the  sea-shore ; "  but,  "  in  Isaac 
shall  thy  seed  be  called." 

God  thus  plainly  and  unequivocally  condemned  Abra- 
hamic  polygamy,  refused  to  recognize  Ishmael  as  a  legiti- 
mate son,  and  disinherited  him.  He  thence  went  forth,  as  a 
cast-out  bastard,  whose  "  hand  was  against  every  man,  and 
every  man's  hand  against  him." 

Sisters  in  Israel !  You  are  told  that  Sarah  is  the  mother 
and  pattern  for  all  women.  She  is  held  up  as  a  bright  ex- 
ample of  conjugal  loyalty  and  faith  for  females  —  wives  and 
mothers  —  of  all  ages.  Follow,  then,  l-.er  example.  If 
through  a  mistaken  faith  and  false  doctrines,  you  have  been 
induced  to  give  mistresses  to  your  husbands,  turn  them  from 
you ;  purify  your  homes,  as  Sarah  did,  and  the  same  God 
who  blessed  her  will  bless  you,  and  multiply  your  children. 

Sisters  in  Israel !  If  you  have  been  led  astray  by  wicked 
and  designing  men,  and  have  been  caught  in  their  snares, 
arise,  and  by  the  help  of  the  Lord  your  God,  break  the 
bonds  of  wickedness,  and  go  forth  and  purify  yourselves  by 
fasting  and  prayer ;  and  the  God  who  blessed  Hagar  in  the 
wilderness  Avill  bless  you,  and  show  you  a  fountain,  even  the 
blood  of  Christ,  which  will  cleanse  you  from  all  sin. 


POLYGAMY.  257 

May  God  guide  and  direct  the  afflicted  women  of  Utah, 
and  speedily  deliver  them  from  their  thraldom. 

The  practical  working  of  polygamy  is  what  might  be  ex- 
pected from  a  system  the  fundamental  principles  of  which 
are  in  direct  opposition  to  the  laws  of  God  and  man. 

A  few  instances  and  illustrations  will  be  given,  from 
among  a  thousand  which  might  be  adduced  to  show  the  un- 
happiness  and  misery  it  entails  upon  all  parties  concerned, 
and  especially  upon  those  females  who  are  so  unfortunate  as 
to  be  drawn  into  it. 

A  Mr.  Cushion  was  engaged  to  be  married  to  Miss  Susan 
McBride,  when  he  was  taken  sick  and  died,  v  He  had  been 
a  great  favorite  of  Heber  C.  Kimball,  Second  President  of 
the  Church,  who  desired  he  should  be  saved  and  glorified 
in  another  world.  But  to  that  end,  he  must  have  a  family. 
Accordingly  Heber  visited  Miss  McBride,  and  urged  her  to 
marry  tlie  man  whom  she  had  loved,  ly  proxy ;  explaining 
to  her  that  it  was  a  religious  duty  which  she  owed  to  her 
affianced  husband.  -  The  poor  girl,  puzzled  and  troubled, 
and  desirous  of  being  in  the  society  of  the  loved  one,  and 
contributing  to  his  happiness  in  the  next  world,  consented. 

Heber  then  applied  to  Robert  T.  Burton,  and  induced  him 
to  marry  the  girl.  Burton  is  the  Sheriff  of  Salt  Lake  Coun- 
ty, and  Collector  of  Internal  Revenue  for  the  United  States 
Government !  He  is  a  fit  instrument  to  carry  out  any  scheme 
of  the  heads  of  the  church,  and  required  but  little  induce- 
ment to  undertake  this  one.  The  poor  girl  was  thus  disposed 
of,  by  being  sealed  to  Cushion  for  eternity,  and  to  Burton,  as 
his  third  wife,  for  time.  She  was  taken  home,  and  domiciled 
with  the  other  two. 

These  worthy  matrons  were  not  pleased  with  the  appear- 
ance of  a  new  wife,  and  claiming  their  rights  as  the  only 
real  wives,  who  had  been  sealed  to  their  husband  both  for 
time  and  eternity,  resolved  at  once  to  make  it  exceedingly 
uncomfortable  for  the  new-comer.  This  they  did  effectually, 
and  Susan's  life  was  a  very  unhappy  one.  But  time  passed 
on,  and  she  became  the  mother  of  several  children.  ^ 

17 


258  POLYGAMY. 

Susan  was  not  allowed  equal  privileges  with  the  other  two. 
She  had  but  one  small  room,  in  which  she  cooked,  ate,  slept, 
and  spun,  while  the  other  two  had  splendid  chambers  and 
parlors,  —  for  Burton  is  wealthy.  When  she  complained 
to  Burton,  he  said,  —  "  Susan,  you  know  I  have  only  married 
you  for  time,  and  you  must  not  expect  the  same  privileges 
which  I  grant  to  my  other  wives,  who  are  married  for  eter- 
nity, and  who  will  exalt  and  glorify  me  in  the  celestial  king- 
dom. You  ought  to  be  thankful  for  what  you  do  receive, 
and  not  fret  about  my  other  wives." 

The  first  wife  takes  control  of  Susan's  children,  in  contra- 
diction to  the  entire  theory  of  this  complex  and  unnatural 
relationship,  and  the  mother  is  frequently  obliged  to  see  them 
severely  punished,  and  suffer  in  silence.  One  day  the  first 
wife's  boys  and  one  of  Susan's  were  in  the  barn,  doing  some 
mischief.  The  first  wife  went  out  and  commanded  the  boys 
to  come  away.  Her  own  boys  ran  past  unharmed,  but  when 
Susan's  boy,  the  youngest  of  the  three,  came  out,  she  caught 
him,  beat  him,  threw  him  on  the  ground,  and  kicked  him. 

This  is  but  one  of  many  instances,  where  women  are  living 
in  this  way,  being  married  to  one  man  for  time,  and  sealed 
to  another  for  eternity.  This  narrative  was  given  me  by 
one  who  had  lived  in  the  family  for  several  months,  and  saw 
and  heard  what  is  herein  stated. 

A  coarseness  of  feeling  and  sentiment,  scarcely  credible, 
is  another  result  of  this  state  of  society.  Kimball  one  day 
met  a  Mr.  Taussig,  a  Prussian  brother.  "  Brother  Taussig," 
he  said,  "  are  you  doing  well  ?  "  "  Yes,  sir,"  was  the  reply. 
"  Then  you  do  well  for  the  church  too,"  said  the  Second  Pres- 
ident ;  "  how  many  women  have  you  ?  "  "  Two,  sir."  "  That 
is  not  enough  ;  you  must  take  a  couple  more.  I  '11  send  them 
to  you.  Do  you  hear?"  "Yes,  sir."  On  the  following 
evening,  when  the  brother  returned  home,  he  found  two 
women  sitting  there.  His  first  wife  said :  "  Brother  Taussig," 
(all  the  women  call  their  husbands  "  brother,")  "  these  are  the 
Bisters  Pratt."     They  were  two  widows  of  Parley  P.  Pratt. 


POLYGAMY.  259 

One  of  the  ladies,  Sarah,  then  said :  "  Brother  Taussig,  Brother 
Kmiball  told  us  to  call  on  you,  and  you  know  what  for." 
"  Yes,  ladies,"  replied  Brother  Taussig,  "  but  it  is  a  very  hard 
task  for  me  to  marry  two."  The  other  remarked,  "  Brother 
Kimball  told  us  that  you  were  doing  a  very  good  business, 
and  could  support  more  women."  Sarah  then  took  up  the 
conversation  :  "  Well,  Brother  Taussig,  I  want  to  get  mar- 
ried, anyhow."  The  good  brother  replied,  "  "Well,  ladies,  I 
will  see  what  I  can  do,  and  let  you  know." 

The  next  day,  Brother  Taussig  visited  the  Bishop,  and 
effected  a  compromise.  By  marrying  Sarah  he  was  released 
from  the  other.  After  he  had  lived  awhile  with  the  three 
wives,  Sarah  became  dissatisfied,  and  applied  to  Brother 
Brigham  for  a  divorce.  Brother  Taussio;  was  summoned 
before  the  President,  and  made  but  feeble  resistance  to  the 
application,  admitting  that  he  could  not  properly  maintain 
more  than  two  wives.  The  divorce  was  granted,  and  Brother 
Taussig  was  called  upon  by  the  clerk  for  $10.  For  not 
having  the  money,  he  received  a  cursing  from  the  clerk, 
and  Sarah  was  retained  in  the  royal  presence,  with  the  as- 
surance that  it  was  "  no  divorce,"  until  the  money  was  brought 
in.  Brother  Taussig  went  on  to  the  street,  borrowed  it,  and 
brought  it  into  the  office,  —  and  thus  ended  this  disgusting 
serio-comic  conjugal  farce.* 

Other  incidents  are  more  serious  in  their  nature.  One  of 
them,  which  came  to  my  knowledge,  would  be  too  horrible 
to  relate,  were  not  the  facts  well  authenticated. 

An  old  man,  a  brewer  by  occupation,  married  a  young 
girl,  as  a  second  wife.  The  husband  and  the  first  wife 
abused  her  shamefully.  Finally,  after  a  long  course  of  ill- 
treatment,  the  husband  descended  to  the  level  of  the  brute. 
On  one  occasion,  which  was  but  a  few  days  after  her  confine- 

*  To  explain  the  part  which  Brother  Kimball  acted  in  this  affair,  it  after- 
ward appeared  that  he  was  anxious  to  have  Sarah  provided  for  because  he 
•wanted  the  house  that  Sarah  lived  in,  for  his  daughter,  who  was  about  tc 
marry  a  son  of  Parley  P.  Pratt. 


260  POLYGAMY. 

ment,  exasperated  by  her  refusal  to  yield  to  his  wishes,  he 
dragged  her  out  of  bed  by  the  hair,  took  her  down  cellar, 
and  kept  her  there  several  days  and  nights,  upon  bread  and 
water,  until  her  cries  and  entreaties  were  overheard  by  per- 
sons in  the  Overland  Stage-Oifice,  Avhich  was  near  by.  The 
matter  was  investigated,  and  the  poor  and  almost  dying 
woman  released  from  the  clutches  of  the  fiend.  She  was 
taken  violently  ill,  and  soon  after  lost  her  reason  entirely. 

No  notice  was  taken  of  this  transaction  by  the  church 
authorities,  and  the  inhuman  husband  went  unpunished. 

Wife-whipping  is  by  no  means  uncommon  in  Utah.  Many 
names  might  be  mentioned  of  men  of  high  standing  in  the 
church,  who  make  no  scruple  of  using  personal  violence  to 
keep  their  wives  in  due  subordination.  It  is  a  common  say- 
ing, that  a  m?in  who  is  good  at  managing  cattle,  will  be  able 
to  manage  his  women. 

One  would  suppose  that  it  would  be  very  difficult  to  induce 
women  to  go  into  "  plurality "  under  such  circumstances. 
On  the  contrary,  so  infatuated  are  they  with  the  religious 
view  of  the  subject,  that  many  of  them  look  upon  it  as  a 
duty  to  be  performed,  and  a  cross  to  be  borne,  no  matter  at 
what  sacrifice. 

One  of  the  sisters,  in  conversation  with  me,  expressed  her 
views  upon  polygamy  as  follows  :  "  Oh,  it  is  hard,"  she  said, 
"  very  hard ;  but  no  matter,  we  must  bear  it.  It  is  a  correct 
principle,  and  there  is  no  salvation  without  it.  We  had  one, 
(meaning  a  plural  wife,)  but  it  was  so  hard,  both  for  my  hus- 
band and  myself,  that  we  could  not  endure  it,  and  she  left  us 
at  the  end  of  seven  months.  She  had  been  with  us  as  a  ser- 
vant, several  months,  and  was  a  good  girl ;  but  as  soon  as 
she  was  made  a  wife,  she  became  insolent,  and  told  me  she 
had  as  good  a  right  to  tlie  house  and  things  as  I  had,  and 
you  know,"  she  said,  "  that  did  n't  suit  very  well.  But," 
continued  she,  "I  wish  we  had  kept  her,  and  I  had  borne 
everything,  for  we  have  got  to  have  one,  and  don't  you  think 
it  would  be  pleasanter  to  have  one  you  had  known,  than  a 


POLYGAMY.  261 

Stranger  ? "  I  told  her  I  thought  it  would,  if  it  had  to  be 
done,  but  I  hoped  my  husband  would  not  take  one.  She 
said,  "  He  '11  have  to  do  it,  if  you  and  he  w^ant  to  be 
saved." 

That  the  system  of  polygamy  is  really  distasteful  to  the 
women  of  Utah,  —  that  they  ai'e  unhappy  and  dissatisfied, 
especially  the  first  wives,  is  sufficiently  shown  by  the  public 
admissions  of  the  church  authorities.  The  admission  of 
Young  to  that  effect,  made  in  the  strongest  language,  has  al- 
ready been  given.  Jedediah  Grant,  one  of  the  "  three,"  also 
conceded  the  same  fact  in  a  sermon  preached  at  the  Bowery, 
in  September,  1856,  in  the  following  language  :  — 

"  We  have  women  here,  who  like  anything  but  the  Celestial 
Law  of  God ;  and  if  they  could  break  asunder  the  cable  of  the 
Church  of  Christ,  there  is  scarcely  a  mother  in  Israel  hut  icould  do 
it  this  day.  And  they  talk  it  to  their  husbands,  to  their  daughters, 
and  to  their  neighbors,  and  say  they  have  not  seen  a  week's  happi- 
ness since  they  iecame  acquainted  with  that  law,  or  since  their  hus- 
bands took  a  second  wife." 

Nothing  but  the  strong  appeals  constantly  made  to  their 
religious  faith  and  moral  sentiments,  could  hold  them  where 
they  are  for  a  single  day.  Many  instances  might  be  given, 
illustrating  the  workings  of  the  system. 

The  writer  has  no  disposition  to  bring  private  individuals 
into  public  notice,  especially  those  who  deserve  only  to  sink 
into  obscurity.  But  as  this  is  a  subject  which  affects  the 
wdiole  country,  and  must  eventually  be  disposed  of,  upon  the 
basis  of  facts,  we  shall  give  two  or  three  other  instances,  cit- 
ing cases  of  persons  so  well  known,  that  the  facts  will  not  be 
questioned  for  a  moment. 

Mr.  Townsend,  a  hotel-keeper  at  Salt  Lake,  married  a 
young  wife.  The  other  wife  became  disgusted,  and  refused 
to  remain  in  the  house.  So,  in  another  house  back  of  the 
hotel,  lived  the  first  wife,  leading  a  miserable,  unhappy  life, 
looking    upon  the    second    wife    as    an    interloper,   having 


262  POLYGAMY. 

an   unutterable   contempt   for   her,   and   refusing   to   speak 
to  her. 

Mrs.  Captain  Hooper,  an  intelligent  ind  lady-like  woman, 
says  she  does  not  like  to  think  of  the  subj'ect,  —  would  rather 
not  talk  about  it ;  admits  that  if  her  husband  were  to  take  a 
second  wife,  it  would  make  her  very  unhappy,  but  says  it  is 
a  part  of  her  religion,  and  she  believes  it  would  be  her  duty 
to  submit.  It  is  known  that  Brighara  urges  Captain  H.  to 
take  a  second  wife,  and  it  is  thought  the  Captain  wdl  be 
forced  into  it  by  the  absolute  power,  whose  behests  he  must 
obey,  no  matter  how  contrary  to  his  own  inclinations  it  may 
be.  He  was  once  seen  to  come  out  of  the  President's  office 
with  tears  in  liis  eyes,  after  having  had  a  conversation  upon 
the  subject. 

T.  B.  H.  Stenhouse,  an  active,  intelligent  man,  holding 
the  office  of  Postmaster  at  Salt  Lake,  under  the  Federal 
Government,  has  a  beautiful  and  accomplished  wife,  and  an 
interesting  family  of  eiglit  children.  For  a  long  time  after 
arriving  in  Utah,  he  remained  true  to  his  wife.  She  lived 
in  constant  apprehension  that  her  husband  would  "  go  into 
polygamy,"  and  so  much  was  she  opposed  to  it,  that  she  once 
said  to  me  in  his  presence,  that  if  he  did,  she  could  not  and 
would  not  live  with  him  longer. 

Mr,  Cook,  the  Superintendent  and  Assistant  Treasurer  of 
the  Overland  Stage  Company,  who  was  accidentally  killed 
in  California,  was,  during  his  lifetime,  on  intimate  terms  with 
Stenhouse,  and  is  supposed  to  have  exercised  considerable  in- 
fluence to  prevent  him  from  embracing  the  pernicious  sys- 
tem. It  is  known  that  on  one  occasion.  Cook,  hearing  that 
Stenhouse  contemj)lated  something  of  the  kind,  threatened 
him  with  a  prosecution  under  the  Anti-Polygamy  Law  of 
Congress. 

Cook  was  killed,  as  stated,  and  soon  after.  Stenhouse.  freed 
from  any  restraint  except  the  church  and  his  own  pliable 
conscience,  married  Celia,  daughter  of  Parley  P.  Pratt,  a 
pert  little  miss,  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  took  her  into  his 


POLYGAMY.  263 

family,  with  his  eight  children  and  the  wife  with  whom  he 
had  lived  so  many  years.  And  this  too,  in  open  violation  of 
a  law  of  the  United  States,  under  the  government  of  which 
he  holds  a  lucrative  commission ! 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE     ENDOWMENT. 

Dramatis   Personce. 

Eloheim,  or  Head  God,  Brigham  Young. 

Jehovah,  Heber  C.  Kimball. 

Jesus,  Daniel  H.  Wells. 

Michael,  or  Adam,  W.  C.  Staines. 

Satan,  W.  W.  Phelps. 

Apostle  Peter,  Orson  Pratt. 

Apostle  James,  John  Taylor. 

Apostle  John,  Erastus  Snow. 

Washek,  Dr.  Sprague. 

Clerk,  David  0.  Calder. 

Eve,  ]\Iiss  Eliza  R.  Snow. 

Tlmothy  Bkoadbkim,  a  Quaker,  Wilford  Woodruff. 

Deacon  Smith,  a  Methodist,  Orson  Hyde.  / 

Parson  Peabody,  a  Presbyterian,  Franklin  D.  Richard*. 

Elder  Long-Face,  a  Boptist,  Phineas  H.  Young. 

Father  Boniface,  a  Catholic,  George  A.  Smith. 

Brother  and  Sister  Jones,  "j 

Brother  and  Sister  White, 

Sister  Mary  Brown,  to  be  sealed     ^  Endowees. 

to  Brother  White,  I 

Several  other  Candidates,  ) 

ACT  I.    Scene  I. 

[Enter  Candidata. 
Clerk.     Good-morning,  brethren  and  sisters.     Be  seated. 
Brother  White,  please   state   the  time  and  place  of  your 
birth,  date  of  your  marriage,  and  the  time  when  you  were 
baptized  into  the  church. 

Bro.  W.  I  was  born  November  3d,  1801,  in  the  town  of 
Portsmouth,  in  New  Hampshire.  I  was  man-iod  January  1st, 
1824,  and  was  baptized  into  the  church  April  1st,  1860. 


THE  ENDOWMENT.  265 

Clerh  Have  you  paid  your  tithing  punctually?  If  so, 
produce  your  receipts.  [These  are  read,  and  handed  back.] 
That  is  sufiScieut.  You  are  entitled  to  receive  your  endow- 
ments. 

Sister  White,  will  you  state  when  and  where  you  were 
born,  and  when  you  became  a  member  of  the  church  ? 

Sister  W.  I  was  born  September  18th,  1815,  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  and  became  a  member  of  the  church  in  1852. 

Clerh  Sister  Mary  Brown,  please  state  when  and  where 
you  were  born,  and  when  you  became  a  member  of  the 
church. 

Sister  Mary.  I  was  born  June  20th,  1849,  in  Great  Salt 
Lake  City,  and  was  baptized  into  the  church  in  1860. 

[The  Clerk  propounds  the  same  questions  to  all  the  candi- 
dates, and  enters  their  answers  in  the  record.] 

Clerh.  You  will  now  proceed  to  the  washing-room,  the 
brethren  on  the  right,  and  the  sisters  on  the  left. 

Apostle  Peter.  You  will  remove  your  shoes,  that  the  dust 
of  earth  may  not  pollute  the  holy  ground  on  which  you  are 
about  to  tread. 

[The  candidates  are  then  washed  in  tepid  water,  and  each 
member  blessed  with  a  blessing  peculiar  to  each.  They  are 
then  pronounced  clean  from  the  blood  of  this  generation,  and 
a  new  name  is  given  to  each  by  the  Apostle  Peter.  They 
then  return  to  the  waiting-room,  where  the  brethi-en  are 
anointed  with  oil,  the  sisters  receiving  their  anointing  in  their 
own  washing-room. 

This  cei'emony  consists  in  pouring  olive-oil  upon  the  head 
of  each,  well  rubbed  into  the  hair,  nose,  eyes,  and  mouth,  and 
allowed  to  run  down  over  the  person.  It  is  accompanied  by 
a  blessing,  similar  to  that  received  at  the  washing.  Brain  to 
be  strong,  ears  to  be  quick  to  hear  the  words  of  God's  ser- 
vants, eyes  to  be  sharp  to  perceive,  and  feet  to  be  swift  to 
run  in  the  ways  of  righteousness.  This  is  the  anointing  ad- 
ministered preparatory  to  being  ordained  a  "  King  and  Priest 
unto  God  and  the  Lamb." 


266  THE  ENDOWMENT. 

Thus  greased  and  blessed,  the  "  garments  "  are  put  on.  A 
dress  of  muslin  or  hnen  is  worn  next  to  the  skin,  reaching 
from  the  neck  to  the  ankles  and  wrists,  and  in  shape  like  a 
little  child's  sleeping  garment.  Over  this  a  shirt,  then  a 
robe,  made  of  fine  linen,  crossing  and  gathered  up  in  plaits 
on  one  shoulder,  reaching  to  the  ground  before  and  behind, 
and  tied  around  the  waist.  Over  this  is  fastened  a  small, 
square  apron,  similar  in  size  and  shape  to  a  masonic  apron, 
made  of  white  linen  or  silk,  with  imitation  of  fig-leaves  painted 
or  worked  upon  it.  A  cap  made  from  a  square  yard  of  linen, 
and  gathered  into  a  band  to  fit  the  head,  and  white  linen  or 
cotton  shoes,  complete  the  dress  of  the  candidates.] 

SCENE,  n.    Creation. 

Eloheim,  seated  upon  Ms  Throne. 

[Enter  Jehovah,  Jesus,  and  I^riCHAKi,. 

Eloheim.  "  Ye  powers  of  Heaven ! "  This  day  hath 
Satan,  our  rebellious  foe,  been  vanquished.  Lest  he  again 
presumptuous  rise,  let  us  create  new  worlds,  and  people  them 
with  beings  who  by  slow  degrees  shall  rise  and  fill  the  place 
of  those  by  him  deceived.  Go  forth,  ye  heavenly  messen- 
gers ;  examine  well  the  boundless  realms  of  space,  and  bring 
report  from  thence  back  to  the  Eternal  Throne. 

Jehovah,  Jesus,  and  Michael,  [all].  Eternal  father !  Great 
Eloheim,  Maker  and  King  of  the  celestial  worlds.  Joyful 
we  go,  thy  mandates  to  fulfil. 

[Exeunt  Jehovah,  Jesus,  and  Michael. 

Eloheim.  Far  into  chaos  proudly  ride  my  messengers. 
Winds  bear  them  onward,  o'er  the  deep  profound. 

[Reenter  Jehovah,  Jesus,  and  Michael. 

Jehovah,  Jesus,  and  Michael,  [all].  Almighty  Ruler.  The 
way  is  clear.  Send  forth  thy  Word  alone,  and  worlds  will 
rise,  and  circle  into  space,  obedient  to  thy  call. 

Elo.  "  Silence,  ye  troubled  waves !  your  discord  end. 
Thus  far  extend,  thus  far  thy  bounds.  This  be  thy  circum- 
ference, 0  world !  " 


THE  ENDOWMEXT.  267 

Jeh.  Behold  the  Earth.  "  Matter  unformed  and  void ; 
darkness  profound  covers  the  abyss." 

Mich.  But  see,  "the  Spirit  of  God  outspread,  and  vital  vir- 
tue infused,  and  vital  warmth  throughout  the  fluid  mass.  Like 
things  to  like  !  The  rest  to  several  place  disparted."  And 
in  the  air,  "  the  Earth,  self-balanced,  on  her  centre  hangs." 

Elo.     "  Let  there  be  light." 

Jesus.  "  Hail !  Holy  light.  Offspring  of  Heaven,  first 
born." 

EIo.  The  light  is  good.  Let  darkness  flee  into  the  shades 
of  night,  and  light  make  up  the  day. 

Mich.  Hark  !  "  the  celestial  choirs,  when  orient  light,  ex- 
haling first  from  darkness,  they  behold,  —  birthday  of  Heaven 
and  Earth;  with  joy  and  shout,  the  hollow,  universal  orb 
they  fill." 

Elo.  "  Let  there  be  a  firmament  amid  the  waters,  and  let 
it  divide  the  waters  from  the  waters." 

Jeh.  "  Behold  the  firmament,  —  expanse  of  liquid,  pure, 
transparent,  elemental  air,  diffused  in  circuit  to  the  uttermost 
convex ;  partition  firm  and  sure,  the  waters  underneath  from 
those  above  dividing." 

Jesus.  The  water  still  doth  compass  all  the  Earth,  mould- 
ing the  plastic  mass,  and  doth  implant,  within  her  genial 
breast,  the  seeds  of  various  life. 

Elo.  "  Be  gathered,  now,  ye  waters  under  Heaven,  into 
one  place,  and  let  dry  land  appear."  Land,  freed  from  your 
prison-house,  arise,  and  be  called  Earth.  Ye  waters,  —  seas. 
Now  "  let  the  Earth  put  forth  the  verdant  grass,  herb  yield- 
ing seed,  and  fruit-tree  yielding  fruit  after  her  kind,  whose 
seed  is  in  herself,  upon  the  Earth." 

Mich.  Oh,  sight  sublime !  The  Earth,  till  now,  barren 
and  fruitless  was ;  "  her  universal  face "  now  clothed  in 
"  pleasant  green."  Listen,  ye  Gods !  The  morning  stars, 
which  in  the  vast  expanse  of  Heaven,  circle  their  rounds, 
together  sing.  The  sons  of  God,  swift-winged  angels,  shout 
for  joy. 


268  THE  ENDOWMENT. 

Elo.  "  Let  there  be  lights,  high  in  the  expanse  of  Heaven, 
to  divide  the  day  from  the  niglit ;  and  let  them  be  for  signs, 
for  seasons  and  for  days,  and  cii'cling  years  ;  and  let  them 
be  for  lights,  as  I  ordain  their  office,  in  the  firmament  of 
Heaven,  to  give  light  on  the  Earth."  "Two  great  Ughts, — 
great  for  their  use  to  man,  —  the  greater  to  have  rule  by 
day,  the  less  by  night ;  the  stars  I  also  set  in  the  high  firma- 
ment, to  illuminate  the  Earth,  and  rule  the  day  in  their 
vicissitude,  and  rule  the  night,  and  light  from  darkness  to 
divide." 

Jeh.  Behold,  "  the  thousand,  thousand  stars,  that  now 
appear,  spangling  the  hemis[)here,"  the  luminaries  bright, 
that  rise  and  set,  and  crown  the  glory  of  the  fourth  new  day. 

Elo.  "  Let  the  waters  generate  reptile,  with  spawn  abun- 
dant ;  living  soul ;  and  let  fowl  fly  above  the  Earth,  with 
wings  displayed,  on  the  open  firmament  of  Heaven,  and  the 
great  whales,  and  each  soul  living,  each  that  creeps,  and  in 
the  waters  generate,  and  each  bird  of  its  kind,  —  let  each  be 
blessed;"  "be  fruitful,  multiply,  and  in  the  seas  and  lakes, 
and  running  streams,  the  waters  fill :  and  let  the  fowl  be 
multiplied." 

Jesus.  Let  Heaven  rejoice,  let  Earth  be  glad,  and  hail 
the  dawning  of  the  fifth  new  day. 

Elo.  This  is  the  sixth  and  last  morn  of  creation.  Let 
every  creature  forth,  from  his  genial  mother,  cattle  and 
creeping  thing,  and  beast  of  earth,  each  of  his  kind.  All,  all 
is  good,  and  pleasing  in  my  sight. 

Jesus.  "  Now  Heaven  in  all  her  glory  shines.  Earth,  in 
her  rich  attire,  consummate,  lovely,  smiles  ;  air,  water,  earth, 
fowl,  fish,  and  beast  are  here,  and  yet  there  wants  the  master 
work  of  all  yet  done  ;  a  creature  endued  with  reason,  which 
erect  may  stand,  and  self-acknowledged,  govern  all  the  rest." 

Elo.  "  Let  us  make  man,  in  our  own  image,  man  in  our 
similitude,  and  let  them  rule  over  the  fish  and  fowl  of  sea 
and  air,  beast  of  the  field,  and  over  all  the  earth,  and  every 
creeping  thing,  that  creeps  the  ground."     Thou  art  created 


THE  ENDOWMENT.  2G9 

male  and  female,  in  the  form  and  likeness  of  the  Gods.  Go 
forth,  be  blessed ;  "  be  fruitful,  multiply,  and  fill  the  earth, 
subdue  it,  and  throughout  dominion  hold  "  over  all,  all  else 
that  breathes  upon  its  bosom.  Now  all  is  finished,  all  com- 
plete and  perfect.  Immortal  Gods,  let  us  to  our  high  seat 
ascend,  that  from  our  lofty  throne  our  perfect  works  we  may 
behold. 

[To  represent  the  creation  of  man,  Jehovah,  Jesus,  and 
Michael  stroke  each  candidate  separately,  pretending  to 
form ;  and  by  blowing  into  their  faces,  pretend  to  vivify 
them.  They  are  then  supposed  to  be  as  Adam,  newly  made, 
and  perfectly  ductile  in  the  hands  of  their  makers.  A  deep 
sleep  then  falls  upon  the  new  Adam,  and  ribs  are  extracted, 
out  of  which,  in  another  apartment,  their  wives  are  formed. 
They  are  then  commanded  to  awake,  and  their  wives  are 
introduced  to  them ;  after  which  they  file  by  twos  into  the 
garden.] 

SCENE  III.     Garden  of  Eden. 

\^Enter  Adam  and  Eve,  and  Endowees. 

JEve.  "  "Well  may  we  labor,  still  to  dress  this  garden,  -— 
still  to  tend  plant,  herb  and  flower,  our  pleasant  task  en- 
joined." "  Let  us  divide  our  labors,"  each  where  seemeth 
good ;  and  thus,  as  night  draws  on,  our  task  will  be  accom- 
plished. 

Adam.  "  Sole  Eve,  associate  sole,  to  me  beyond  compare, 
above  all  living  creatures  dear !  A  doubt  possesses  me,  lest 
harm  befall  thee,  severed  from  me ;  for  thou  knowest  what 
hath  been  warned  us,  what  malicious  foe  envies  our  happi- 
ness." 

M;e.  "  Offspring  of  Heaven,  and  all  Earth's  Lord !  That 
such  an  enemy  we  have,  who  seeks  our  ruin,  both  by  thee 
informed,  and  from  the  parting  angel  overhead  ;  but  that 
thou  shouldst  my  firmness  therefore  doubt,  to  God  or  thee, 
because  we  have  a  foe  may  tempt  it,  I  expected  not  to  hear." 

Adam.    "Daughter  of  God  and  man,  immortal  Eve, — 


270  THE  ENDOWMENT. 

for  such  lliou  art ;  from  sin  and  blame  entire ;  I,  from  the 
influence  of  thy  looks,  i-eceive  access  in  every  virtue.  Why 
Bhouldot  not  thou  like  sense  Avithin  thee  feel  when  I  am 
present,  and  thy  trial  choose  with  me,  —  best  witness  of  thy 
virtue  tried." 

Eve.  "  If  this  be  our  condition,  thus  to  dwell  in  naiTOW 
circuit,  straitened  by  a  foe,  how  are  we  happy  still,  in  fear  of 
harm  ?  " 

Adam.  "  0  woman,  best  are  all  things  as  the  will  of  God 
ordains  them ;  therefore  go ;  for  thy  stay,  not  free,  absents 
thee  more." 

Mve.  "  With  thy  permission  then,  and  thus  forewarned," 
I  go. 

[Enter  Satan,  in  the  form  of  a  serpent,  half  man,  half 
snake.  He  discovers  Eve  in  a  bower  of  roses,  and  watches 
her  at  a  distance.] 

Satan.  "  Thoughts,  whither  have  ye  led  me  ?  —  what 
hither  brought  us  ?  Hate,  not  love,  but  all  pleasure  to  de- 
stroy." [He  approaches  Eve.]  "Wonder  not,  sovran  mis- 
tress, fairest  resemblance  of  thy  Maker  fair,  at  my  appear- 
ance, half  man,  half  beast,  but  approach  and  view  this  goodly 
tree,  the  fruit  of  which  such  wonders  work." 

Eve.  "  Serpent,  we  might  have  spared  our  coming  hither," 
for  "  of  this  tree  we  may  not  taste  or  touch ;  thus  hath  our 
God  commanded." 

Satan.  "  Indeed  !  Hath  God  then  said,  that  of  the  fruit 
of  all  these  garden  trees  ye  shall  not  eat,  yet  lords  declared 
of  all  in  earth  or  air  ?  " 

Eve.  "  Of  the  fruit  of  each  tree  in  the  garden  we  may 
eat,  but  of  the  fruit  of  this  fair  tree,  amidst  the  garden,  God 
hath  said,  '  Ye  shall  not  eat  thereof,  nor  shall  ye  touch  it, 
lest  ye  die.' " 

Satan.  "  O  sacred,  wise,  and  wiSdom-giving  plant ;  mother 
of  science  !  Now  I  feel  thy  power  within  me  clear,  not  only 
to  discern  things  in  their  causes,  but  to  trace  the  ways  of 
highest  agents,  deemed  however  wise.     Queen  of  this  Uni« 


THE  ENDOWMENT.  271 

verse!  Do  not  believe  these  rigid  threats  of  death;  —  ye 
shall  not  die."  Your  tyrant  ruler  knows  full  well,  that  in 
the  day  ye  eat  thereof,  ye  shall  be  as  Gods,  and  good  from 
evil  know.    "  Goddess  humane,  reach  then,  and  freely  taste." 

[Satan  plucks  the  fruit  and  presents  it.  Eve  receives  it, 
and  after  considerable  hesitation,  tastes,  and  finally  eats  it. 
Adam  soon  after  enters.] 

JEve.  "  Hast  thou  not  wondered  at  my  stay  ?  Thee  have 
I  missed ;  "  for  I  have  tasted  of  the  tree  to  us  forbidden,  and 
such  delight  till  now  have  never  felt.  Taste  thou,  [offers  him 
the  fruit,]  and  be  a  God. 

[Adam  stands  amazed  and  sorrowful,  dropping  a  garland 
from  his  hand.] 

Adam.  "  0  fairest  of  creation !  Some  cursed  fraud  of 
enemy  hath  beguiled  thee,  and  me  with  thee  hath  ruined ; 
for  with  thee  certain  my  resolution  is  to  die."  [He  eats.] 
Oh,  fruit  delicious,  fit  indeed  for  Gods.  From  us  withheld, 
lest  being  Gods,  we  cease  to  obey  our  tyrant  Lord. 

[They  soon  begin  to  see  their  true  condition.  They  re- 
proach each  other.  They  discover  their  nakedness,  make 
aprons  of  fig-leaves,  and  wear  them.  The  voice  of  Eloheim 
is  heard  in  another  part  of  the  garden.] 

Elo.  "  Adam,  where  art  thou  ?  Why  hast  thou  fled  and 
hid  thyself  ?     What  hast  thou  done  ?  " 

Adam.  0  Lord,  my  Maker  and  Preserver !  Thy  voice  I 
heard,  when  thou  didst  walk  amid  the  trees,  but  being  naked, 
I  did  fear  to  see  thy  face.  Confusion  dire  and  shame  filled 
all  my  soul. 

Mo.  "  Who  told  thee  thou  wast  naked  ?  Hast  thou  then 
eaten  of  that  tree,  to  thee  forbidden  ?  " 

Adam.  The  woman  whom  thou  gavest  me  did  give  this 
fruit  unto  ray  lips ;  and  1  did  eat. 

Elo.  0  woman,  fair  "but  frail.  Why  hast  thou  done  this 
deed  of  sin  ? 

Eve.     "  The  serpent  me  beguiled,  and  I  did  eat." 

Elo.    "Because  thou  hast  done  this,  thou  art  accursed 


272  THE  ENDOWMENT. 

above  all  cattle,  each  beast  of  the  field.  Upon  thy  belly 
grovelling  thou  shalt  go,  and  dust  shalt  eat,  all  the  days  of 
thy  life.  Between  thee  and  the  woman  I  will  put  enmity, 
and  between  thine  and  her  seed :  her  seed  shall  bruise  thy 
head,  thou  bruise  his  heel."  And  thou,  0  Eve,  "  thy  sorrow 
I  will  greatly  multiply  by  thy  conception :  children  thou 
shalt  bring  in  sorrow  forth,  and  to  thy  husband's  will  thine 
shall  submit ;  he  over  thee  shall  rule."  And  thou,  0  Adam, 
"  because  thou  hast  hearkened  to  the  voice  of  thy  wife,  and 
eaten  of  the  tree  concerning  which  I  charged  thee,  saying, 
*Thou  shalt  not  eat  thereof;'  cursed  is  the  ground  for  thy 
sake  ;  thou  in  sorrow  shalt  eat  thereof  all  the  days  of  thy 
life ;  thorns  also  and  thistles  it  shall  bring  thee  forth  unbid ; 
and  thou  shalt  eat  the  herb  of  the  field  ;  in  the  sweat  of  thy 
face  shalt  thou  eat  bread,  till  thou  return  unto  the  ground ; 
for  thou  out  of  the  ground  wast  taken;  know  thy  birth; 
for  dust  thou  art,  and  shalt  to  dust  return." 

Elo.  [To  Jehovah,  Jesus,  and  Michael.]  "Behold  the 
man  is  become  as  one  of  us,  knowing  good  from  evil ;  and 
now,  lest  he  in  some  unguarded  hour  put  forth  his  hand, 
take  of  the  tree  of  life,  and  live  forever,  we  must  foi'th  from 
hence  expel  him."  We  will  place  from  Eden  eastward  cher- 
ubims,  and  flaming  sword,  turning  which  way  soever  he  may 
attempt  an  entrance. 

Adam.  "  O  miserable  of  happy !  Is  this  the  end  of  this 
new,  glorious  world  ?  —  and  me,  so  late  the  glory  of  that 
glory  ?  Accursed  of  blessed,  hide  me  from  the  face  of  God, 
whom  to  behold  was  once  my  height  of  happiness." 

Eve.  "  O  unexpected  stroke,  worse  than  of  death  !  Must 
I  thus  leave  thee.  Paradise  ?  —  thus  leave  thee,  native  soil, 
—  these  happy  walks  and  shades,  fit  haunt  of  Gods,  Avhere  I 
had  hoped  to  spend,  quiet  though  sad,  the  respite  of  that  day 
that  must  be  mortal  to  us  both  ?  0  flowers  !  that  never  will 
in  other  climate  grow,  my  earliest  visitation  and  my  last 
at  even,  which  I  bred  up  with  tender  hand,  from  the  first 
opening  bud,  and  gave  ye  names !     Who  now  shall  rear  ye 


THE  ENDOWMENT.  273 

to  the  sun,  or  rank  your  tribes,  and  water  from  the  ambrosial 
fount?  Thee,  lastly,  nuptial  bower!  by  me  adorned  with 
what  to  sight  or  smell  was  sweet !  From  thee,  how  shall  I 
part,  and  whither  wander,  down  into  a  world,  to  this  ob- 
scure and  wild  ?  How  shall  we  breathe  in  other  air,  less 
pure,  accustomed  to  immortal  fruits  ?  " 

Elo.  0  man,  thy  cries  of  penitence  and  woe  have  reached 
my  ears.  I  will  a  plan  unfold,  obedience  to  which,  rendered 
with  deep  humility,  shall  by  degrees  redeem  and  bring  you 
back  to  Heaven. 

My  holy  priesthood  I  henceforth  establish  upon  Earth.  To 
those  endowed  with  that  high  calling,  as  unto  me,  shalt  thou 
with  reverence  bow.  Their  power  supreme,  commands  in- 
disputable, in  my  stead,  I  appoint  them  unto  you.  They  are 
to  act  henceforth  as  I  myself. 

[Here  oaths  of  inviolable  secrecy,  with  the  penalty  of 
throat-cutting,  are  administered  to  the  awe-stricken  and  in- 
timidated neophytes.  They  are  sworn  to  render  implicit 
obedience  to  the  priesthood,  and  to  depend  upon  them  for 
everything ;  especially  not  to  touch  any  woman,  imless  given 
through  the  priesthood. 

A  sign,  a  grip,  and  a  key-word  are  given  to  the  endowees, 
and  the  First  Degree  of  the  A  aronic  Priesthood  is  conferred.] 

Elo.  You  are  now  endowed  with  one  law  of  purity,  one 
key  of  truth,  and  one  power  of  priesthood.  Go  forth  into 
the  world,  ye  fallen  ones,  and  seek  for  truth.  Obey  the 
voice  of  God  and  his  holy  priesthood,  and  I  will  send  to 
Earth  a  Saviour,  that  through  faith  and  obedience  you  shall 
again  inherit  your  lost  estate,  again  enjoy  the  ambrosial  fruits 
in  the  celestial  kingdom  of  the  Gods. 

[ExemU  all. 

SCENE  IV.    The  "World. 

[Enter  Adam,  Eve,  Endowees,  and  Sectarians. 
Timothy  Broadbrim.     I  feel  the  movement  of  the  Spirit 
to  speak  unto  thee.     Thou  knowest  that  the  world  is  lost  in 

18 


274  THE  ENDOWMENT. 

Bin  and  wickedness.  But  ye  should  "resist  not  evil,"  but 
"  overcome  evil  with  good."  "  If  a  man  take  away  thy  cloak, 
give  him  thy  coat  also."  Raise  not  thy  hand  to  harm  a  fel- 
low-creature. "  Charity  suffereth  long  and  is  kind ! "  See 
that  no  brother  be  in  want ;  look  ye  after  the  widow  and  the 
fatherless. 

Deacon  Smith.  Brethren  and  Sisters,  —  I  rise  to  address 
you  a  few  words,  founded  upon  the  following  passage  of 
Scripture: — "And  there  shall  be  weeping  and  wailing, 
and  gnashing  of  teeth."  Oh,  this  is  a  fearful  doom.  Oh,  ye 
sinners,  hear.  There  is  a  lake  which  burns  with  fire  and 
brimstone ;  you  arc  on  the  very  brink  ;  do  you  not  see  thou- 
sands of  the  damned  weltering  in  its  burning  waves  ?  You 
are,  as  it  were,  on  a  greased  plank,  sliding,  and  sliding,  as 
swift  as  the  wheels  of  Time  can  roll,  down  to  this  awful  gulf. 
[Sisters  begin  to  shriek  and  faint.]  Flee  from  the  wrath  to 
come ;  fly  to  Jesus ;  come  to  the  mourners'  bench ;  cry 
mightily  to  God  for  help.  He  alone  can  save  you.  Come, 
come,  come  to  Jesus.  Brethren  and  sisters,  sing,  — 
"Where  shall  tlie  guilty  soul  find  rest?  "  etc. 

Parson  Peahody  [speaking  through  his  nose].  INIy  dear 
hearers,  this  is  a  fallen  world.  We  are  all  in  the  gall  of 
bitterness,  and  in  the  bond  of  iniquity.  Satan,  the  great 
enemy  of  mankind,  is  ever  seeking  our  destruction.  Let  us 
close  our  hearts  against  his  wiles,  and  come  to  Jesus,  and  if 
we  are  of  the  elect,  foreordained  from  before  the  creation  of 
the  world,  we  shall  be  saved  ;  and  if  not,  we  shall  be  lost. 
We  can  do  nothing  of  ourselves.  We  are  in  the  hands  of  a 
just  and  wise  God,  who  doeth  all  things  well. 

In  the  language  of  the  divine  poet,  — 

"  If  you  can,  if  you  can't; 
If  you  will,  if  you  won't; 
You  '11  be  damned  if  you  do, 
You  '11  be  damned  if  vou  don't." 

Let  the  brethren  remember  their  covenants,  and  let  them 
bring  their  offspring  to  the  altar,  and  there  consecrate  them 


THE  ENDOWJIENT.  275 

to  God,  through  the  ordinance  of  sprinkling;  and  if  they  are 
to  be  saved,  they  will  be  saved.  Otherwise,  though  not  a 
span  long,  they  will  go  down  to  the  bottomless  pit. 

Elder  Long  face.  Brethren,  —  The  subject  of  my  discourse 
will  be  found  in  the  following  text :  "  Whom  he  did  predes- 
tinate," «&c. 

We  learn  from  this,  —  1st,  That  we  are  sinners.  2d,  We 
need  a  Saviour.  3d,  That  we  must  be  baptized  by  immer- 
sion. 4th,  That  we  should  exclude  from  the  communion- 
table all  such  as  are  not  immersed.  5th,  That  many  are 
called,  but  few  chosen.  6th,  That  those  who  are  chosen  will 
be  saved,  without  their  own  action  in  the  matter.  7th,  That 
those  who  are  not  chosen  will  be  damned,  no  matter  what 
they,  do,  in  and  of  their  own  strength  ;  and  lastly,  in  order  to 
have  the  least  opportunity  to  be  saved,  you  must  join  the 
Baptist  Church. 

The  Lord  grant  that  many  may  embrace  the  truth  as  it  is 
in  Christ  Jesus,  and  unite  with  "  our  church,"  and  be  saved. 
The  brethren  will  sing,  — 

"  0,  when  shall  we  see  Jesus,"  &c., 

Father  Boniface  [with  pages,  robes,  candles,  &c.].  Te 
Deum  laudamus.  [They  sing.]  0  Divine  Queen  of  the 
skies.  Holy  Mother  of  God,  to  thee  we  lift  up  our  voices. 
Grant  us  thy  divine  intercession  with  thy  dear  Son,  that  we, 
through  his  precious  blood,  may  be  made  clean.  Bless  thy 
believing  children,  make  them  faithful  to  their  Holy  Father 
the  Pope,  diligent  in  counting  their  beads,  and  saymg  their 
matins  and  vespers.  0  Holy  Mother,  keep  them  from  all 
sin  ;  especially  grant  them  grace  to  eat  no  meat  on  Friday, 
and  we  will  ever  adore  and  bless  thee,  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Spirit.     Amen. 

Let  the  choir  sing  Ave  3faria.     Benedicite. 

[Enter  Satan. 

Satan.  Good-morning,  brethren.  I  love  you  all;  you 
are  my  friends.     I  am  gratified  to  find  you  so  faithful  in 


276  THE   ENDOWMENT. 

assisting  me  to  build  up  my  kingdom.  Rest  assured,  yoa 
shall  be  rewarded.  You  shall  be  kings  and  princes  when  I 
succeed  in  setting  up  my  throne  upon  the  Earth. 

[Enter  Ajiostles  Peter,  James,  and  John. 

Peter.  Why  dost  thou  tempt  the  children  of  men,  and  lie 
in  wait  to  deceive  them  ? 

Satan.  "  Let  me  alone.  "What  have  I  to  do  with  thee," 
thou  follower  of  Jesus  ?  I  know  thou  hast  the  holy  priest- 
hood of  God, — 

Peter,  James,  and  John,  [all.]  And  in  tlie  name  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  of  the  holy  priesthood,  we  command 
you  to  depart  from  hence. 

[The  Devil  foams,  hisses,  and  rushes  out,  chased  by  the 
Apostle  Peter.] 

James.  My  children,  hearken  now  unto  my  voice.  TVhen 
in  these  last  days  God  saw  the  lost  condition  of  mankind,  his 
heart  was  moved  with  pity,  and  He  sent  with  me  Peter  and 
John,  and  commanded  us,  sayinp:,  "  Go  ye  to  Earth,  and  seek 
me  a  good  man,  of  the  lineage  of  Joseph,  who  was  carried 
away  into  Egypt,  and  of  the  lineage  of  the  prophets,  even 
Joseph  Smith."  Restore  to  him  the  lost  priesthood.  Be- 
stow upon  him  the  keys  of  power;  make  him  Prophet,  Seer, 
and  Revelator,  and  let  him  reestablish  my  church  upon  the 
Earth."  Behold,  this  was  done,  and  the  same  power  and  au- 
thority has  now  descended  from  Joseph  to  Brighnm.  Hear  ye 
him,  tlie  representative  of  God  on  Earth.  Him  reverence  and 
obey,  afid  ye  shall  advance  toward  the  kingdom  of  Heaven. 

[An  oath,  penalty,  the  heart  to  be  plucked  out,  with  ago- 
nizing details,  is  administered.  The  utmost  secrecy  is  im- 
pressed, and  the  Second  Degree  of  the  Aaronic  Priesthood  is 
conferred,  with  signs,  grips,  &c.] 

ACT  II.      Scene  I.  ^ 

Room  with  an  altar  in  the  centre. 
[Enter  Apostles  Peter,  James,  and  John,  with  the  candidates  for  endow* 
mcnt. 

Peter.     Dearly  beloved,  you  are  now  in  the  way  of  salva- 


THE   ENDOWMENT.  277 

tion.  Be  faithful  to  each  other,  and  all  your  brethren. 
Betray  not  the  secret  thhigs  of  Zioa  to  the  ungodly  gentiles. 
Think  not  with  your  own  thoughts,  but  come  to  the  priest- 
hood. They  are  the  mediators  between  God  and  man. 
Obey,  without  murmuring,  whatever  they  command,  though 
it  may  seem  to  you  unjust  or  unreasonable.  Your  hearts  are 
not  so  fully  sanctified  as  to  enable  you  to  judge  as  to  the 
merit  of  their  acts.  Be  ever  ready  and  wilhng  to  forsake 
father  or  mother,  husband  or  wife,  houses  or  lands,  for  the 
glory  of  Zion,  and  the  upbuilding  of  God's  kingdom  on  the 
Eai-th.  And  more  especially,  brethren,  as  you  value  your 
eternal  salvation  and  temporal  welfare,  speak  no  evil  of  the 
Lord's  anointed. 

[An  oath  is  now  administered,  with  particulars  the  most 
disgusting  and  revolting,  Another  sign,  key-word,  and  grip, 
are  communicated,  and  the  First  Degree  of  the  Melchisedec 
Priesthood  is  conferred.] 

SCENE  n. 

Another  room  with  an  altar  in  the  centre ;  on  it  the  Bible, 
Book  of  Mormon,  and  Book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants. 
Jehovah  in  the  room,  and  Eloheim  in  the  next,  looking  on. 
The  candidates  are  ranged  round  the  altar.  The  Apostles 
are  also  present. 

Peter.  You  are  now  in  a  saved  condition,  and  acceptable 
in  the  sight  of  God.  You  are  to  enter  on  the  work  of  the 
Lord,  in  truth  and  sincerity. 

"  Behold  now,"  saith  the  Lord,  "  the  wicked  and  ungodly 
gentiles ;  they  have  slain  the  Prophet  Joseph,  persecuted 
the  saints,  and  mocked  at  my  priesthood.  Therefore,  O 
Israel,  arise  in  thy  strength,  go  forth  and  revenge  the  wrongs 
of  my  people  on  this  perverse  generation.  They  have  spilled 
the  blood  of  the  saints,  and  wasted  their  substance.  There- 
fore let  their  blood  be  spilled,  and  let  their  substance  be 
wasted." 


278  THE    ENDOWMENT. 

Let  the  curse  of  God  rest  on  this  nation  and  Gt)vernment. 
Let  wars  and  famine,  and  cruel  pestilence  overtake  them,  and 
let  the  Church  of  God,  in  its  glory  and  power,  rule  over  all 
the  nations,  and  till  the  whole  earth. 

Therefore,  brethren,  be  ye  vigilant ;  and  let  no  opportunity 
pass  to  vindicate  the  name  of  your  God  ;  and  if  you  cannot 
do  it,  teach  it  to  your  children.  Let  them  take  it  from  their 
mother's  breast.  Teach  it  to  them  from  your  bed  of  death, 
and  leave  it  for  an  inheritance,  that  all  people  may  know  that 
the  God  of  Israel  has  set  his  hand  to  gather  his  people,  and 
to  destroy  the  wicked  from  off  the  face  of  the  earth. 

[Here  another  oath  is  administered,  binding  the  endowee 
to  revenge  the  death  of  Joseph  Smith  on  this  generation  ;  to 
cherish  constant  enmity  toward  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment, doing  all  in  his  power  for  its  overthrow  ;  to  baffle  its 
designs,  to  refuse  submission  and  renounce  all  allegiance,  and 
to  obey  the  church  authorities,  and  no  other. 

Curses  the  most  frightful,  penalties  the  most  barbarous, 
accompany  the  obligation,  to  add  to  its  binding  efficacy,  and 
to  insure  secrecy.  A  new  sign,  grip,  &c.,  complete  the 
Second  Degree  of  the  Melchiscdec  Priesthood.^ 

John.  You  are  the  children  of  the  Most  High,  endued 
with  powers  and  blessings.  Your  robes  of  righteousness, 
which  you  must  henceforth  wear,  in  token  of  your  covenants, 
are  on  the  wrong  shoulder,  and  none  but  God's  priesthood 
can  set  them  right.  [The  robes  are  changed  to  the  other 
shoulder,  and  the  candidates  are  stationed  in  a  circle,  around 
the  altar.] 

Peter.  Little  children,  you  are  now  chosen  of  God  to  carry 
on  his  mighty  work,  and  He,  through  his  servant,  will  teach 
you  how  to  pray,  that  your  supplications  may  reach  the  eter- 
nal throne,  and  call  down  an  immediate  answer. 

[Peter  kneels  on  his  right  knee,  takes  hold  of  the  hand  of 
one  of  the  standing  brethren,  all  of  whom  are  united  by  a 
fantastic  intertwining  of  hands,  and  prays  slowly,  all  repeat- 
ing his  words  after  him :] 


THE  ENDOWMENT.  279 

"  0,  God,  ruler  of  the  celestial  world,  we  have  this  day 
taken  upon  ourselves  covenants  and  powers  from  thy  hand. 
Make  us  faithful  to  those  covenants ;  and  if  we  obey  not  thy 
commands,  let  thy  curses  descend  upon  our  heads.  Make  us 
quick  to  hear  and  obey  God's  servants  in  the  holy  priest- 
hood, and  if  we  ever  divulge  anything  that  we  have  received, 
let  the  curses  this  day  pronounced,  fall  upon  our  heads. 
Make  us  faithful  in  Zion  and  in  the  upbuilding  of  her  cause, 
and  at  last  receive  us  into  thy  celestial  kingdom,  with  all  the 
gifts,  powers,  and  blessings  this  day  pronounced  upon  the 
faithful  in  Israel.     Amen. 

Peter.  Brethren,  you  are  now  members  of  the  holy  orders 
of  God's  priesthood.  Henceforth  you  are  entitled  to  all  the 
blessings  and  privileges  of  the  same. 

[The  endowees,  fitted  for  Heaven  and  celestial  glory,  pass 
"  behind  the  vail,"  a  new  name  is  whispered  very  softly  and 
quickly  to  each ;  certain  marks,  resembling  the  Masonic 
square  and  compass,  are  cut  in  the  under  garment,  on  the 
left  breast ;  also  a  similar  one  on  the  knee.  The  candidates 
are  then  ushered  into  the  full  light  and  glory  of  the  celestial 
kingdom.  The  brethren  turn  back  to  the  vail,  and  admit  their 
wives,  whose  garments  are  marked  in  a  similar  manner.] 

SCENE  III.    The  Celestial  Kingdom. 

In  the  centre  of  this  apartment  is  an  altar,  nicely  cushioned, 
with  a  cushioned  ledge  to  kneel  upon.  The  men  kneel  upon 
one  side  and  the  tcomen  upon  the  other,  each  hrother  hold- 
ing the  hand  of  his  wife,  also  of  the  woman  to  whom  he  is 
to  be  sealed,  with  the  patriarchal  grip.  The  ceremony  of 
sealing  for  eternity  then  commences. 

Eloheim.  Children  of  Earth,  you  have  been  redeemed  by 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  and  the  power  of  my  holy  priesthood. 
You  have  been  faithful  unto  the  end,  and  shall  now  receive  a 
crown  of  glory.  In  like  manner  as  I  gave  Eve  unto  your 
father  Adam,  while  he  was  yet  pure  and  holy,  I  give  unto 


280  THE   ENDOWMENT. 

you  wives  and  children,  tliat  you  may  be  Grods  in  your  seasion, 
and  that  worlds  may  be  peopled  by  your  posterity.  [Each 
candidate  is  asked  the  usual  questions,  and  after  the  answers 
have  been  received,  Eloheirn  proceeds  :] 

Because  of  your  faithfulness  in  all  these  things,  I  seal  upon 
you  the  blessings  of  the  Holy  Resurrection,  with  power  to 
come  forth  in  the  morning  of  the  first  resurrection,  clothed 
with  glory,  immortality,  and  eternal  lives ;  and  I  seal  upon 
you  the  blessings  of  thrones  and  dominions,  and  })riiicipali- 
ties,  and  powers,  and  exaltations  ;  together  with  the  blessings 
of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob;  and  say  unto  you,  be  fruitful 
and  multiply,  and  replenish  the  earth,  that  you  may  have  joy 
and  rejoicing  in  your  posterity,  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 
All  these  blessings,  together  with  all  other  blessings  pertain- 
ing to  the  new  and  everlasting  covenant,  I  seal  upon  your 
heads,  and  enjoin  your  faithfulness  unto  the  end. 

[The  candidates  dress,  get   a   lunch,  and    return   to    the 
"  celestial  kingdom  "  to  hear  a  lecture  by  Kimball,  explanatory 
of  the  whole  scheme.     The  signs,  tokens,  marks,  and  idea, 
are  many  of  them  taken  from  the  Masonic  Order.     "  The  in 
tention  of  the  mystery  is  to  teach   unlimited    obedience   to 
Brigham,  and  treason  against  the  country."] 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

8RIGHAM  AS  GRAND  ARCHEE  OF  THE  ORDER  OF  THE  GODS. 

Organization  of  the  Order  of  the  Archees. — The  Grand  Archees.  —  The 
Archees.  —  The  Danites. — Organization  of  Brigham's  Celestial  King 
dom.  —  Doctrine  of  Adoption.  —  Case  of  Dr.  Sprague.  —  Description  of 
Leading  Danites:    Bill  Hickman,  Porter  Rockwell,  Robert  T.  Burton. — 
Affidavits.  — Recent  Attacks  on  Emigrant  Trains. 

"  There  on  that  throne,  to  which  the  blind  belief 
Of  millions  raised  him,  sat  the  Prophet  Chief. 


On  either  side,  with  ready  hearts  and  hands, 
His  chosen  guard  of  bold  believers,  stands; 
Young  fire-eyed  disputants,  who  deena  their  swords 
On  points  of  faith  more  eloquent  than  words; 
And  such  their  zeal,  there  's  not  a  youth  with  brand 
Uplifted  there,  but,  at  the  Chief's  command. 
Would  make  his  own  devoted  heart  its  sheath. 
And  bless  the  lips  that  dooni'd  so  dear  a  death." 

The  Order  of  the  Danites  has  been,  for  many  years,  an 
established  institution  in  the  Mormon  Church. 

Brigham  and  his  two  Cotmsellors  form  the  First  Pres- 
idency of  this  Order,  under  the  style  of  Gods,  or  Grand 
Archees.  These  are,  at  present,  Young,  Kimball,  arid  Wells. 
A  few,  also,  of  the  Apostles,  hold  the  rank  of  Grand  Archees. 
These  have  the  power  of  life  and  death. 

Next  in  importance,  is  a  body  of  men  called  Archees. 
They  are  entitled  to  sit  in  Council  with  the  Gods  or  Grand 
Archees,  in  matters  relating  to  the  taking  of  life.  This 
"  Quorum,"  as  it  is  called,  also  includes  some  of  the  Bishops 
and  Presidents  of  other  quorums  in  the  church.  Their  office 
is  to  examine  cases  of  offenders  thought  to  require  a  sum- 
mary disposal,  and  submit  the  result  of  such  examination  to 


282        BRIGHAM  AS  GRAND  ARCHEE 

tlic  Grand  Archees.  In  some  cases,  wliere  the  utmost  dis- 
cretion is  required,  they  act  as  agents  and  swift-winged  mes- 
sengers, to  carry  into  effect  the  decrees  of  the  Gods. 

The  Archees  have  discretionary  and  independent  power 
over  the  lives  of  all  gentiles  and  '*  apostates." 

Next  in  rank  are  the  Danites,  whose  office  is  to  assist  the 
Archees  in  the  execution  of  their  bloody  deeds.  These  are 
formed  into  bands  of  fifty  men  eacli.  One  band,  at  least, 
belongs  to  each  Archee,  they  serving  under  him  as  minute- 
men.  These  "  Danite  Bands "  are  generally  composed  of 
inferior  officers  and  teachers,  constables,  and  policemen,  and 
those  who,  having  committed  heinous  crimes,  as  murder,  theft, 
adultery,  &c.,  would  sooner  be  sworn  to  serve  in  this  bloody 
office,  than  have  their  deeds  exposed  and  receive  their  justly 
merited  punishment. 

The  officers  in  all  these  grades  are  solemnly  sworn  to 
secrecy,  and  to  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices,  on  pain 
of  instant  death. 

Where  the  danger  of  discovery  is  imminent,  and  the 
matter  in  hand  too  important  to  be  trusted  to  the  Danites, 
the  Archees  meet  and  perform  the  dirty  work  themselves ; 
as  in  the  case  of  Secretary  Babbett,  Brewer,  and  the  unlucky 
attempt  on  Dr.  Hurt.  In  other  cases,  the  Danites  are  called 
upon  ;  instance  the  Parishes,  Potter,  Bowman,  Mountain 
Meadows,  &c. 

The  Danites  are  also  expected  to  act  as  spies  upon  the 
federal  officers  and  other  gentiles  ;  to  watch  the  feelings  and 
spirits  of  the  saints,  and  to  report  the  first  indications  of 
disaffection.  Such  cases  are  at  once  attended  to,  and  if 
they  are  deemed  of  a  dangerous  character,  are  summarily 
disposed  of. 

The  spoil  is  divided,  one  half  going  to  the  Grand  Archees, 
and  the  other  half  to  the  Archees  and  Danites  who  are  em- 
ployed in  the  commission  of  the  crime. 

When  Judge  Cradlebaugh  attempted  to  bring  to  justice 
the   perpetrators  of  the   Mountain-Meadow   Massacre,   and 


OF  THE  ORDER  OF  THE  GODS.       283 

various  other  crimes,  several  bishops  and  many  other  lead- 
ing Mormons  fled  to  the  mountains,  where  they  remained 
several  weeks.  Tlieir  place  of  refuge  they  named  "  Mount 
Kolob,"  which  means  "  the  residence  of  the  Gods." 

The  remark  is  frequently  made  in  Utah,  —  "  Brigham  is  the 
only  God  I  care  ad —  about."  The  deep  meaning  of  this 
is  only  to  be  explained  by  reference  to  this  organized  system 
of  crime,  taken  in  connection  with  the  organization  of  the 
"  celestial  kingdom." 

The  theory  is,  that  Brigham  Young  is  a  God  in  embryo. 
That  he  is  laying  the  foundation  here  for  a  celestial  king- 
dom. That  tliere  will  be  created  for  him  a  world,  which 
his  posterity  will  inhabit,  and  of  which  he  will  be  the  King 
and  God. 

His  kingdom  will  be  constituted  as  follows  :  — 

1st.     Plimself  as  God. 

2d.  His  wives  as  Goddesses  and  Queens,  each  ruling  her 
own  posterity,  with  Brigham  as  husband  and  God. 

3d.     His  sons  and  their  families. 

4th.  Tiie  daughters,  by  the  celestial  law,  would,  when 
married,  pass  out  of  their  father's  kingdom,  and  be  added  to 
the  husbands'.  To  obviate  this  difficulty,  every  man  who 
marries  one  of  the  President's  daughters,  is  obliged  to  be 
adopted  by  and  sealed  to  his  father-in-law.  The  daughter 
is  thus  retained  to  augment  her  father's  kingdom,  by  the 
addition  of  her  family.  This  is  one  reason  why  female  chil- 
dren are  so  lightly  esteemed  in  Utah.  They  cannot  add  to 
the  father's  glory,  but  must  go  to  glorify  others. 

5th.  Many  young  men  who  have  no  families,  and  there- 
fore no  kingdoms,  are  sealed  to  Brigham,  to  add  to  his  celes- 
tial glory,  —  in  some  instances,  also,  men  of  families,  who 
have  not  ambition  enough  to  aspire  to  kingdoms  of  their 
own.  This  relationship  pertains  to  this  world  as  well  as  to 
the  next.  Brigham  becomes  a  father  to  them  here,  supports 
them  if  necessary,  and  demands  their  respect  and  obe- 
dience. 


284        BRIGHAM  AS  GRAND  ARCHEE 

A  case  recently  occurred  in  Salt  Lake,  wliicli  fully  illus- 
trates the  power  which  Young  exercises  over  this  class  of 
his  subjects. 

Dr.  Sprague,  an  Eastern  man,  has  been  at  Salt  Lake  about 
twelve  years.  During  most  of  that  time  he  has  officiated  in 
the  Endowment  House,  in  the  washings  and  anointings.  He 
has  also  had  charge  of  the  Tabernacle,  and  acted  as  family 
physician  to  the  inmates  of  the  Harem. 

He  has  a  wife,  and  two  children.  His  son  is  on  a  mission, 
and  the  daughter,  a  little  girl  of  thirteen,  is  an  invalid. 
Mrs.  Sprague  is  a  model  New-England  housewife.  Slie  has 
toiled  early  and  late  to  procure  the  comforts,  and  .*ome  of 
the  luxuries  of  life.  By  the  most  persevering  effort,  they  at 
length  succeeded  in  building  a  beautiful  house,  and  Doctor 
Sprague's  garden  is  the  prettiest  in  Salt  Lake. 

The  family  removed  to  their  new  residence  in  the  fall  of 
1862,  and  had  but  just  furnislied  it.  By  the  Mormon  law  of 
adoption,  the  property  of  the  adopted  child  belongs  to  the 
father,  or  is  under  his  control.  Dr.  Sprague  is  tlie  adopted 
son  of  Brigliam  Young.  His  whole  property  is  worth  not 
less  than  $10,000. 

Mrs.  Emeline  Free  Young  has  been  very  melancholy  since 
Brigham  married  Amelia.  Her  health  continued  to  decline 
until  it  was  thought  advisable  to  remove  her  from  the  Lion 
House,  the  scene  of  her  joys  and  sorrow,  and  situate  her 
more  pleasantly.  Accordingly  one  day  Brigham  called  on 
Dr.  Sprague  and  wife,  and  coolly  told  them  that  he  wanted 
their  place  for  three  or  four  years,  for  Emeline,  until  he  could 
build  her  one.  At  the  end  of  that  time  tliey  could  have  it 
again,  and  in  the  mean  time  they  could  live  in  the  house  for- 
merly occupied  by  J.  M.  Grant,  which  he  would  have  re- 
paired for  their  use. 

The  husband  and  wife  were  astonished  and  confounded  at 
this  request,  and  Mrs.  Sprague,  under  the  first  impulse  of  her 
indignation,  said  "  she  did  not  relish  the  idea  of  giving  up 
her  house  to  people  who  read  novels  every  day."     "  Very 


OF  THE  ORDER  OF  THE  GODS.        285 

well,"  replleil  the  Prophet,  "if  you  pi'efer  to  incur  mj  dis- 
pleasure rather  than  to  let  me  have  your  home,  you  can  do 
60."     With  this  he  left  them. 

The  Doctor  and  his  wife  began  thinking  the  matter  over. 
It  would  never  do  to  incur  the  displeasure  of  Brother  Brig- 
ham.  He  was  their  father  in  this  world,  and  their  God  in 
the  celestial  kingdom.  Then  the  Doctor  was  advancing  in 
years,  and  should  he  lose  his  situation  in  the  Endowment 
House  and  Tabernacle,  where  would  be  the  support  for  him- 
self and  family  in  his  declining  years  ?  He  had  served  his 
adopted  father  so  long  and  f  utlifully,  should  he  break  witli 
him  now  ?  It  would  never  do  ;  so,  after  many  sleepless  nights 
and  much  anguish  of  spirit,  he  made  up  his  mind  to  make 
the  sacrifice.  As  to  Mrs.  Sprague,  she  cared  not  for  herself, 
but  her  poor  sick  child !  She  had  lived  for  years  almost  en- 
tirely in  the  beautiful  garden,  and  how  could  she  leave  it 
now  ?  With  frail  and  faltering  step  she  had  wandered  amid 
the  flowers  and  fruit,  culling  this  bright  geranium  and  that 
lovely  rose,  plucking  this  beautiful  strawberry,  and  that  lus- 
cious bunch  of  grapes,  and  by  this  sweet  communion  with 
Nature,  the  child  seemed  to  receive  afresh  the  life-giving 
principle.  She  was  now  to  be  torn  from  her  little  pai*adise, 
by  whom,  and  for  what  ?  No  wonder  if  the  heart  of  the 
mother  grew  somewhat  stony  at  the  reflection. 

When  the  poor  girl  heard  that  she  must  leave  these  "  de- 
lightful shades,"  she  wept  until  oblivion  wrapt  her  senses, 
and  in  a  fit  of  convulsions,  she  forgot,  for  the  time  being,  at 
least,  her  cruel  fate. 

The  sisters  came  to  condole  with  Sister  Sprague ;  said  it 
was  too  bad.  "  Sister  Sprague,  it  is  too  bad,  but  you  had 
better  do  it  than  to  have  Brother  Brigham's  curse  resting 
upon  you." 

Emeline,  who  is  really  a  kind-hearted  creature,  came  and 
wept  with  Sister  S.,  saying  she  did  not  w^ant  her  home,  "  but 
Brigham,"  said  she,  "  has  set  his  mind  upon  it,  and  we  don't 
any  of  us  dare  to  speak  to  him  about  it." 


286  BRIGHAM  AS  GRAND  ARCIIEE 

Young  remained  inexorable,  —  the  change  was  made ;  and 
to-day  the  wliilome  favored  wife  and  now  cast-off  mistress 
of  Brigham  Young,  occupies  the  beautiful  residence  of  Dr. 
Spnigue,  the  fruit  of  his  many  years  of  toil  and  economy. 

Bill  Hickman  is  one  of  the  most  notorious  of  the  Danite 
leaders.  He  is  now  about  fifty  years  of  age.  He  is  a  man 
of  medium  size,  heavy  set,  of  florid  complexion,  troubled  of 
late  years  with  weak  eyes,  causing  him  to  wear  goggles.  He 
is  of  Southern  birth,  and  a  strong  secessionist,  but  professes 
much  friendship  for  the  United  States  Government,  and  the 
federal  officers.  He  is  wily  and  cunning,  with  much  of  the 
suaviter  in  modo,  and  is  something  of  a  lawyer.  He  glories 
in  a  household  of  seven  "  women  "  and  about  twenty  children, 
but  does  not  maintain  them  in  the  higliest  style. 

Porter  Rockwell,  another  noted  character,  is  somewhat  of 
the  same  style  of  Hickman.  Shorter  of  stature,  with  the 
Utah  floridity  of  complexion,  and  very  voluble  in  conversation. 
Anything  that  is  all  right  with  Rockwell,  is  "  on  the  square.'' 
It  is  "  wheat " ;  and  nearly  every  act  and  expression  of  a 
stranger,  is  of  that  character. 

Robert  T.  Burton,  Sheriff  of  Salt  Lake  County,  and  Col- 
lector of  Internal  Revenue,  who  bids  fair  to  rival  or  outdo 
all  the  others  in  his  lawless  deeds,  is  a  tall,  wiry  man,  one  it 
would  be  hard  to  hit  with  a  bullet.  He  is  cool  and  imper- 
turbable ;  in  fact,  never  thrown  off  his  balance,  never  want- 
ing in  case  of  an  emergency.  No  fitter  person  to  carry  out 
the  plans  of  Young  could  be  fomid  within  or  without  the 
Territory,  and  upon  him  Brigham  relies  implicitly.  With 
or  without  a  "  writ,"  he  is  always  ready. 

It  is  not  ray  purpose  to  enter  into  a  history  of  the  many 
crimes  to  be  traced  with  more  or  less  certainty  to  the  doors 
of  these  and  other  Mormon  leaders.  Some  of  them  will  be 
found  collated  in  the  appendix  to  the  speech  of  Judge  Cradle- 
baugh,  already  mentioned.  Others  are  touched  upon  in  the 
pages  of  this  volume. 

Oue  or  two  affidavits,  from  a  large  number  in  the  writer's 


OF  THE  ORDER  OF  THE  GODS.        287 

possession,  Avill  here  be  given,  to  illustrate  the  workings  of 
the  Mormon  system,  and  to  show  how  little  the  perpetration 
of  crime  stands  in  the  way  of  the  prosecution  of  the  plans 
and  purposes  of  the  church  leaders. 

"United  States  of  America,    ) 
Territory  of  Utah.  j  *** 

" of  said  Territory,  being  duly  sworn,  says  :  — 

"  About years  ago,  I  was  living  on  the River,  in  the 

Ward,  and  was  Bishop  of  that  Ward.  Was  in  good  stand- 
ing in  the  Mormon  Church. 

"  During  that  summer,  a  man  who  had  had  a  difficulty  with  a 
Bishop  Hving  near  me,  was  killed.  When  the  man  was  missed, 
the  Bishop  refused  to  help  look  for  him.  Myself  and  several  oth- 
ers turned  out,  and  after  considerable  search,  found  the  body.  It 
was  perforated  by  two  balls.  One  had  entered  the  back,  the  other, 
the  back  of  the  head.  The  difficulty  related  to  a  girl,  whom  the 
Bishop  wanted  to  marry,  for  a  plural  wife. 

"  A  relative  of  the  murdered  man  went  to  Salt  Lake  City,  and 
related  all  the  facts  to  Elias  Smith,  Probate  Judge  of  Great  Salt 
Lake  County,  (Mormon,)  asking  his  advice.  Tliis  relative  told 
me  afterward,  that  Judge  Smith  said,  '  Keep  still  for  a  while.* 
Nothing  was  ever  done.  No  examination,  coroner's  jury,  or  inves- 
tigation of  any  kind. 

(Signed) 

"  Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me,  at  Salt  Lake  City,  thia 
18th  day  of  April,  a.  d.  1863. 

"  Charles  B.  Waite, 
'■'■  Associate  Justice  for  Utah  Territory." 

[Taken  in  presence  of  two  witnesses.] 


"  United  States  of  America, 
Territory  of  Utah. 

-,  of  said  Territory,  being  duly  sworn,  says :  — 


"  I  have  resided  in  the  Territory  of  Utah  about  eight  years. 
Some  time  in  the  fall  of  1855,  two  men,  one  of  them  named 
Frank  Keene,  rented  a  house  on  East  Weber,  in  Weber  County, 
in  this  Territory.  They  rented  of  a  Mr.  Cox,  and  paid  the  rent 
up  to  the  last  day  of  March  ensuing,;  Some  time  in  February  Cox 


288         BRIGHAM  AS  GRAND  ARCHEE 

endeavored  to  take  possession  of  the  house.  The  tenants  remon- 
strated,  and  the  matter  was  referred  to  the  Teacher  of  the  district. 
Cox  was  a  Mormon  ;  the  tenants  were  not.  The  Teacher  decided 
they  should  remain  until  the  lease  expired.  Cox  appealed  to 
the  Bishop  of  the  Ward,  Abiah  "Wadsworth.  AVadsworth  heard 
the  case.  The  Bishop  at  first  confirmed  the  decision  of  the  Teacher ; 
but  immediately  afterward,  he  said,  as  the  tenants  were  gentiles, 
they  must  leave ;  and  turning  round  to  his  clerk,  directed  him  to 
write  a  notice  to  them  to  leave  within  a  week.  There  were  two 
or  three  feet  of  snow  on  the  ground.  Frank  Keene  was  destitute 
of  means.  They  both  left  as  ordered.  Nearly  a  month  remained 
of  the  time  for  which  rent  was  paid,  and  there  was  no  pretence 
that  the  lease  had  been  broken.  It  was  a  very  severe  winter,  and 
a  famine  was  prevailing. 

"  The  next  winter,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Jones  was  denounced, 
and  his  life  threatened,  in  a  church  meeting.  The  cause  was  this: 
He  had  loaned  Lorenzo  Snow,  in  England,  one  hundred  pounds 
sterling,  to  print  the  '  Book  of  Mormon '  in  the  Italian  language. 
Upon  arriving  in  the  Territory,  Jones  tried  to  get  payment  of  the 
money,  but  could  not.  It  was  because  he  insisted  upon  having 
his  money,  that  he  was  denounced. 

"  The  meeting  was  held  at  Centreville  ;  and  so  much  excitement 
was  raised  against  Jones,  and  so  many  threats  made  against  him, 
that  he  fled  for  his  life.  At  the  same  time,  the  order  was  given, 
that  no  one  should  feed  or  entertain  him,  but  he  should  be  left  to 
perish.  Stoddard,  one  of  the  High-Priests,  told  me  that  the  Bishop 
was  so  angry  that  he  came  down  from  the  stand  to  kill  Jones,  in 
the  meeting,  but  he  fled.  I  saw  Jones  some  weeks  afterward.  He 
corroborated  these  statements,  and  said  the  Bishop  tried  to  kill 
him. 

"  I  have  often  heai-d  the  doctrine  of  cutting  the  throats  of  apos- 
tates preached  from  the  pulpit,  particularly  during  the  year  1856, 
when,  for  several  months,  I  scarcely  attended  meeting  without 
hearing  such  preaching.  They  would  say,  '  If  you  find  a  man 
with  his  throat  cut,  pay  no  attention  to  it.' 

"  At  one  time,  my  life  was  threatened  by  a  Danite,  and  his  in- 
tention to  take  my  life  was  sanctioned  at  a  meeting,  by  the  Bishop 
and  authorities.  No  cause  was  alleged,  except  a  trivial  remark 
made  by  my  wife,  reflecting  slightly  on  one  of  the  First  Presidents. 
The  remark  had  been  exaggerated  and  attributed  to  me,  and 


OF  THE  ORDER  OF  THE  GODS.        289 

although  it  was  fully  explained,  I  was  followed  and  threatened 
for  over  a  year.  At  that  time  my  wife  and  myself  were  members 
of  the  Mormon  Church,  in  good  standing. 

"In  December,  1857,  Bishop  Abiah  Wadsworth,  of  East  Weber 
Ward,  gave  permission  to  his  friends  to  steal  cattle  for  beef,  from 
gentile  merchants,  and  aided  them  in  so  doing.  In  carrying  on 
these  operations,  they  took  cattle  belonging  to  Mormons  who  had 
purchased  them  of  gentile  merchants.  Having  the  brand  of  those 
merchants  upon  them,  it  was  supposed  they  belonged  to  gentiles. 
The  taking  of  the  Mormon  cattle  gave  rise  to  a  church  meeting 
to  investigate  the  affair.  I  was  present  at  that  meeting.  The 
result  was,  that  those  who  had  taken  cattle  which  were  proved  to 
belong  to  Mormons,  should  pay  for  them.  It  was  also  determined 
at  the  same  meeting,  that  those  who  had  taken  cattle  belonging 
to  gentiles,  should  pay  their  value  to  Brigham  Young,  as  Trustee 
of  the  Emigrating  Fund.  The  gentile  owners  of  these  cattle  had 
been  driven  out  of  the  Territory. 

(Signed) . 

*'  Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me,  this  2d  day  of  May,  A.  D. 
1863,  at  Great  Salt  Lake  City. 

"  Charles  B.  Waite, 
^^  Associate  Justice  for  Utah  Territory." 

The  names  of  these  affiants,  and  some  of  the  circum- 
stances tending  to  identify  them,  are  omitted,  as  the  writer 
does  not  feel  at  liberty  to  place  their  lives  in  danger.  We 
do  not  hesitate  to  say,  however,  that  the  evidence  furnished 
by  them  is  entirely  reliable.  Both  of  these  witnesses  saw 
Burton  shoot  Morris,  and  corroborate  Dow's  affidavit  on  that 
point. 

Many  of  the  murders  committed  on  the  Plains,  and  attacks 
on  emigrant  trains,  usually  attributed  to  Indians,  may  be 
traced  to  the  Mormons.  Some  light  is  thrown  upon  these 
transactions  by  the  following  statements  furnished  by  men 
who  were  crossing  the  Plains  in  the  summer  of  1863. 

Statement  of  James  P.  Veatch. 

"I  am  going  to  Oregon.    Am  from  Newbern,  Marion  County, 

Iowa. 

19 


290  BRIGHAII  AS  GRAND  AKCHEE 

"  We  travelled  on  the  road  from  Salt  Lake  City  to  within  eight 
miles  of  the  City  of  Rocks,  when  we  turned  north,  and  went 
about  three  miles.  There  we  struck  the  old  California  Road, 
which  passes  by  the  City  of  Rocks.  Just  before  reaching  the 
road,  we  came  to  a  large  camping-gi-ound,  or  corral,  covering 
about  an  acre. 

"  Here  we  saw  rifle-pits  and  entrenchments,  and  some  half  a 
dozen  ox-yokes,  —  also  bones  of  cattle.  We  then  proceeded  east, 
on  the  same  road,  some  three  or  four  miles,  where  we  found  a 
wagon-bed,  —  also  a  letter  written  by  a  man  named  Bradley,  and 
directed  to  Indianola,  Warren  County,  Iowa.  About  half  a  mile 
farther,  we  found  a  small  provision-box.  [This  statement  was 
made  at  a  camp  on  Snake  River,  a  few  days  after  Veatch  and  his 
party  had  passed  the  scene  of  the  massacre.]  We  also  found  a 
Bible,  a  copy  of  Wesley's  Sermons,  and  a  large  Testament.  These 
books  were  pretty  Avell  decayed.  Some  of  them  we  still  have. 
Also  a  volume  entitled  '  The  Wide,  Wide  World.' 

"  About  seventy-five  yards  farther,  we  found  two  graves  of 
grown  persons ;  no  names  on  them.  They  had  the  appearance  of 
being  last  year's  graves.  We  then  drove  four  or  five  miles,  and 
camped  near  a  creek  emptying  into  Raft  River. 

"  Next  morning,  after  going  about  two  miles,  we  came  to  where 
five  or  six  wagons  had  been  corralled.^  Here  feather-beds  had  been 
opened,  and  feathers  scattered ;  many  were  still  matted  on  the 
ground.  There  was  an  old  chair  or  two  partly  burned  ;  also  a 
chest,  with  the  hinges  torn  off,  and  the  lock  broken  open.  Also 
several  books:  a  spelling-book,  Bible,  melodeon  note-books,  etc. 
Also  '  The  Journeyings  of  the  Children  of  Israel.'  The  name  of 
James  H.  Smith  was  in  the  Bible  and  another  book  ;  that  of  Caro- 
line Smith  in  another.  [Some  of  these  books  are  now  in  the 
writer's  possession.]  ' 

"  There  were  also  the  bones  of  twelve  or  fifleen  head  of  cattle, 
which  must  have  been  killed  last  summer.  There  Avere  signs  of 
men  having  been  there  within  a  few  days.  There  is  no  emigra- 
tion on  the  road  this  season ;  but  there  were  the  fresh  tracks  of 
three  wagons,  —  mule  and  horse  teams. 

"  About  three  fourths  of  a  mile  beyond  this  place,  we  crossed 
the  creek.  Tliere  I  ssjtv  three  or  four  skull-bones.  Others  of  the 
company  saw  more  of  them.  At  this  place  a  skeleton  was  found, 
nearly  complete.     A  little  farther  on,  we  found  a  cast-iron  cook- 


OF  THE  ORDER  OF  THE  GODS.  291 

ing  stove,  broken  in  pieces.  Men  had  lately  been  at  this  place. 
A  handful  of  buckshot  was  found. 

"  Near  the  junction  of  this  with  the  Oregon  road,  we  saw  two 
graves,  —  one  of  a  man  from  Keokuk,  Iowa,  buried  in  August, 
1862;  the  other,  of  a  lady  23  years  of  age,  named  Jl..  J.  Adams, 
and  marked,  '  Sliot  by  Indians  on  the  9th,  and  died  on  the  12th 
of  August,  1862.' 

"  FoiTrteen  wagon-tires  and  a  twelve-pound  cannon-hall  were 
found  at  this  phice.  We  carried  the  ball  to  our  camping-ground, 
and  there  left  it. 

"  Two  young  men,  Francis  Kelsey  and  Harrison  Edwards,  told 
us,  that  when  they  went  down,  about  five  weeks  ago,  they  saw 
two  wagons  nearly  complete,  at  the  place  where  we  noticed  the 
wagon-bed,  but  when  we  passed,  they  were  gone. 

"  I  know  that  a  train  went  from  Newbern,  Iowa,  starting  about 
the  11th  of  May,  1862,  bound  for  Oregon.  George  Leeper,  from 
that  train,  was  killed  by  Indians.  A  train  from  Indianola,  Iowa, 
was  attacked  by  Indians  last  summer,  their  property  taken,  and 
several  of  their  number  killed  and  wounded.  The  survivors  were 
assisted  back  to  Salt  Lake  City,  hy  the  Mormons.  John  Gamble, 
of  Knoxville,  Iowa,  can  give  further  information  concerning  this 
matter;  also  Rev.  Joseph  Howard,  Newbern,  Marion  County, 
Iowa." 

Statement  of  W.  F.  Lawrence. 

"  I  am  from  Appanoose  County,  Iowa.  At  our  first  camp,  after 
striking  the  Oregon  Road,  I  saw  three  wagons  approaching;  they 
were  going  eastward.  A  man  from  the  wagons  came  to  our  camp. 
He  was  a  short,  thick-set  person,  with  light  complexion,  light  hair, 
and  full,  round  face,  considerably  freckled ;  downcast  look.  He 
said  he  was  from  the  outside  settlements  of  Salt  Lake,  near  Love- 
lands,  and  was  out  here  gathering  up  old  irons.  Said  they  came 
to  a  place  on  Snake  River,  where  they  could  walk  across  on  the 
rocks,  but  did  not  dare  to  go  farther,  for  fear  the  Indians  would 
steal  their  horses.  Said  his  party  consisted  of  three  white  men 
and  one  Ute  Indian,  whom  they  had  brought  along  to  recover 
their  horses,  should  the  Indians  steal  them. 

"  He  asked  if  tliey  could  camp  with  us ;  and  being  told  they 
could,  said  he  would  go  up  and  drive  the  wagons  down ;  but  in- 
stead of  doing  so,  the  party  went  off  in  a  direction  which  would 
be  twenty  miles  to  water,  —  and  this  was  near  sundown. 


292  BRIGHAM  AS    GR.VND  ARCHEE. 

"  The  night  before,  a  man  had  been  among  our  cattle,  and  wlien 
our  guide  cried  '  Halt ! '  he  ran  off  toward  the  road."  This  man 
was  supposed  to  be  young  Bernard,  the  '^  Mormon  from  the  outside 
settlements' 


CHAPTER  XV. 

RECENT  EVENTS.  —  CONCLUSION. 

Personal  Appearance  and  Character  of  Brigham  Young.  —  His  Aims  and 
Purposes.  —  Solution  of  the  Mormon  Question.  —  New  Complications.  — 
Military  Reviews  of  Mormons.  —  Governor  Durkee.  —  Counteracting  In- 
fluences.—  The  Mines  and  Miners.  —  Rev.  Norman  McLeod. —  The 
"Salt  Lake  Vedette."  —  Administration  of  General  Connor.  —  Murder 
of  Brasslield.  —  Order  of  Young  for  the  Expulsion  of  the  Gentiles.  — 
Order  for  the  Murder  of  Eighty  Men.  — Difficulties  concerning  the  Public 
Lands.  —  Murder  of  Dr.  Robinson.  — .The  Gentiles  flee  in  Terror.  —  The 
Government  fails  to  protect  its  Officers  and  Citizens.  —  The  Hero  of 
Thi-ee  Wars  of  the  Republic  hunted  through  the  Territorj'.  —  Rev.  Mr. 
McLeod  warned  not  to  return  to  Utah.  —  The  Reign  of  Terror  com- 
menced. —  The  Gentiles  call  for  Help. 

Brigham  Young  is  a  man  of  medium  height,  compact 
fi'ame,  with  a  manner  deliberate  and  impressive.  There  is 
less  of  ostentation,  however,  in  his  bearing  toward  strangers 
than  might  be  expected  in  a  religious  pretender.  His  hair 
is  sandy,  and  inclined  to  curl ;  featm'es  regular,  and  expres- 
sive of  great  determination. 

In  conversation  he  is  pleasant  and  affable,  but  is  restive 
under  the  slightest  contradiction  or  opposition.  Strangers 
are  tavorably  impressed  with  the  first  visit  to  his  office. 
They  go  to  see  and  hear,  and  Brigham  looks  well  and  is  a 
good  talker.  He  has  talent,  and  is  not  destitute  of  genius  ; 
when,  therefore,  he  is  master  of  the  field,  and  has  the  choice 
of  topics,  he  never  fails  to  make  himself  interesting,  if  so 
disposed.  Indeed,  is  it  not  in  itself  interesting  to  see  and 
hear  the  Mohammed  of  America  ? 

His  early  education  was  very  limited,  and  his  sermons  are 
illiterate.  But  in  that  most  important  of  all  fields  of  educa- 
tion, a  knowledge  of  mankind  and  of  human  nature,  he  ia 


294  RECENT  EVENTS. 

proficient.  It  is  tnio,  tlint  even  here  he  sometimes  grossly 
errs  in  his  esrtimate  of  men.  This  is  because  his  experience 
is  mostly  confined  to  certain  phases  of  human  nature,  la 
those  phases  he  is  an  adept.  Outside  of  them,  he  brings  to 
bear  a  strong  judgment,  upon  a  limited  range  of  facts,  and  if 
he  misses  the  conclusion,  he  has  the  tact  to  retrieve  liis  error  as 
speecHly  a*  possilile.  lie  has  no  pride  of  consistency,  which 
coullicts  in  tlie  slightest  degree  with  the  accomplislmientof  his 
purposes.  If  necessary  to  attain  his  ends,  he  is  one  thing  to- 
day, and  anotlier  to-morrow,  and  all  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  ! 

Miicli  has  been  said  as  to  his  sincerity  in  his  religious  pro- 
fessions and  belief.  In  his  younger  days  he  may  have  been 
sincere ;  doubtless  was.  Tlie  character  of  his  religion,  and 
the  degree  of  his  sincerity,  at  the  present  time,  may  be  in- 
ferred from  the  following  incident. 

A  physician  at  Salt  Lake  was  urged  by  Brigham  to  join 
the  church.  He  had  lived  in  the  city  several  years,  and  was 
doing  a  good  business,  and  it  was  pressed  upon  him  as  a  re- 
ciprocal duty.  The  Doctor,  like  too  many  of  his  profession, 
was  tainted  with  infidelity.  "  I  would  n't  mind  joining  your 
church,''  said  he,  "  but  I  don't  believe  in  your  religion.  In 
fact,"  he  added,  with  emphasis,  "  I  don't  believe  in  any 
religion."  "  Oh,"  replied  Brigham,  "  that  don't  make  any 
difference.     Come  and  be  baptized,  and  it  will  all  be  right ! " 

The  Doctor  ivas  baptized,  and  became  a  good  enough  Mor- 
mon. He  received  as  his  reward,  from  the  hand  of  Brigham, 
a  beautitiil  young  lady  as  a  "  second  wife." 

Young's  talent  is  all  of  a  practical  character,  —  his  shrewd- 
ness is  ever  ready  to  extricate  him  from  any  difficulty  or 
emergency.  As  a  financial  and  political  leader,  he  is  far 
superior  to  Joseph  Smith.  As  a  religious  leader,  he  is  much 
his  inferior.  Smith  was  brave  ;  Young  is  cowardly.  Smith 
was  enthusiastic  and  impetuous,  while  Young  is  cool  and  cal- 
culating. 

Brigham  is  a  good  speaker.  Oratory,  however,  he  uses 
as  a  means  to  accomplish  certain  ends ;  and  he  seldom,  even 
when  most   excited,  says   anything  that  has  not  its  object. 


CONCLUSION.  295 

His  manner  in  the  pulpit  is  impressive  and  authoritative ; 
and  he  sometimes  rises  to  a  high  degree  of  eloquence.  His 
illustrations  are  apt,  his  sentences  frequently  pungent  and 
sarcastic. 

He  is  lamentably  deficient  in  moral  sense.  No  falsehood 
staggers  him,  no  blasphemy  shocks  him.  Why,  then,  should 
he  hesitate  at  the  perpetration  of  any  crime  which  will  con- 
duce to  the  accomplishment  of  his  life-purpose.  Even  the 
traveller  Burton,  his  admirer  and  panegyrist,  thus  frankly 
expresses  his  doubts  as  to  tliis  phase  of  his  character :  "  I 
cannot  pronounce  about  his  scrupulousness  ;  all  the  world 
over,  the  sincerest  religious  belief,  and  the  practice sof  devo- 
tion, are  sometimes  compatible  not  only  with  the  most  dis- 
orderly life,  but  with  the  most  terrible  crimes ;  for  mankind 
mostly  believes  that  '7/  est  avec  le  ceil  des  accomodements' 
He  has  been  called  hypocrite,  swindler,  forger,  murderer. 
No  one  looks  it  less."  This  is,  perhaps,  true ;  but  therein 
lies  his  hypocrisy. 

We  have  already  shown  that  polygamy  originated  in  the 
passions  and  lusts  of  himself  and  followers,  and  was  after- 
ward reduced  to  a  system  and  promulgated  as  part  of  the 
Mormon  religion.  So  with  other  phases  of  the  system.  The 
Celestial  Kingdom,  the  Grand  Archee,  the  Prophet,  the  Seer, 
the  Revelator,  —  all  tend  to  self  and  self-aggrandizement. 
Everything  must  yield  and  become  subservient  to  the  pur- 
poses of  his  unholy  ambition.  Principles,  conscience, 
the  moral  sense,  Christianity,  the  divine  brotherhood  of 
man,  human  liberty  and  republican  institutions,  the  sa- 
cred associations  of  the  home-fireside  and  of  the  family 
altar,  all  the  thrilling  sentiment  and  ennobling  effect  of 
love,  the  purity  and  fidelity  of  the  marriage  relation,  all 
the  rights  of  property  and  life,  all  the  relations  of  man  to 
God,  —  yea,  God  himself,  with  all  the  machinery  of  Heaven 
and  the  spiritual  world,  including  angels,  spirits,  and  demons, — 
are  brought  under  contribution  to  this  one  man,  and  made  to 
revolve  about  him,  —  a  confused  constellation  of  chaotic  ele- 
ments from  the  mental  and  moral  world.     Neither  social  nor 


296  RECENT  EVENTS. 

political  restraint  does  he  recognize.  Setting  himself  above 
all  law,  human  and  divine,  he  becomes  a  law  to  himself  and 
his  deluiled  tbliowers. 

How  long  this  state  of  things  is  to  last,  how  big  this  God- 
defyiiig  ci-eature  is  yet  to  swell  ere  he  is  checked  in  his 
tyi-iiunioul  and  blasphemous  career,  how  long  this  tlieocratic 
monarchy  is  to  stand  in  the  centre  of  the  Republic,  remains 
to  be  seen. 

But  the  question  will  be  asked,  "  Is  there  any  remedy 
other  than  by  the  strong  hand?  And  would  not  that  increase 
rather  than  diminish  the  number  of  his  followers  ?  Whether 
there  caiHibe  any  peaceful  solution  of  the  question  is  doubt- 
ful. Inflamed  by  power,  blinded  by  ambition,  he  will  not 
tamely  submit  to  the  laws  and  the  constituted  authorities,  so 
long  as  he  has  thousands  of  obedient  followers  around  him, 
ready  to  move  as  a  single  man  at  his  word  of  command. 

The  only  hope  of  a  peaceful  result  lies  in  the  gradual  as- 
similation of  the  "gentile"  with  tlie  Mormon  element.  A 
wonderful  change  is  already  in  progress  in  this  respect, 
caused  by  the  presence  of  United  States  volunteers,  the 
influx  of  miners,  and  the  preaching  of  true  religion.  This 
is  seen  by  Young,  who  already  trembles,  as  he  turns  his 
thoughts  into  the  future. 

Fearful  that  the  migration  of  miners  into  the  Territory 
would  tend  to  lessen  his  power,  and  desirous  of  removing  the 
government  troops  from  Camp  Douglas,  he  spent  several 
months  in  the  spring  of  1864,  in  inducing  the  farmers  to 
unite  in  raising  the  price  of  their  produce,  and  enlisting  the 
people  generally  in  favor  of  a  combination  against  the  gen- 
tiles.    To  tiie  same  end  he  has  been  laboring  for  years. 

On  IMonday,  the  8th  of  August,  1864,  a  Convention  of 
Delegates  from  the  several  Wards  in  the  Territory  assem- 
bled, in  accordance  with  this  scheme  and  by  direction  of  the 
"  President,"  at  the  Tabernacle,  in  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  to 
adopt  measures  for  the  establishment  of  the  prices  of  produce 
upon  a  gold  basis. 

The  scheme  signally  failed.     Temporarily,  supplies  for  the 


CONCLUSION.  297 

troops  were  brought  across  the  Phiins,  and  were  purchased 
as  they  could  be  had.  But  General  Connor  more  than  hint- 
ed that  if  this  plan  should  be  persisted  in,  what  supplies  he 
could  not  purchase  at  a  fair  price  with  the  currency  of  the 
country,  he  would  take.  This  had  the  desired  effect,  and 
after  some  further  spasmodic  effbrts,  this  attempt  to  lay  an 
embargo  upon. the  traffic  of  the  people  with  the  Government, 
was  abandoned. 

This  meeting,  like  every  other  in  Utah,  merely  gave  ex- 
pression to  the  preconceived  views  and  preconcerted  meas- 
ures of  the  leaders.  No  steps  were  taken  to  raise  the  wages 
of  the  mechanic  or  laborer.  Brigham  denounced  the  me- 
chanics bitterly,  because  they  were  opposed  to  raising  the 
price  of  produce,  calling  them  a  parcel  of  thieves  and  rascals. 
He  indulged  in  a  tix-ade  of  abuse  and  vulgar  language,  unfit 
for  publication. 

This  may  be  cited  as  one  of  the  instances  in  which  he 
mi.'y'udged  human  nature.  By  espousing  the  interests  of  one 
class  against  those  of  the  otiier,  instead  of  attempting  to 
reconcile  them,  he  introduced  a  new  element  of  discord  into 
his  already  inharmonious  kingdom.  Two  of  the  delegates 
at  the  meeting  had  sufficient  manly  dignity  and  moral  courage 
to  plead  the  cause  of  the  mechanic  and  laborer ;  also  of  the 
poorer  class  generally;  showing  the  amount  of  misery  and 
suffering  that  would  be  entailed  upon  them  by  the  adoption 
of  the  proposed  measures.  To  which  Young  replied,  in  a 
tone  of  sarcasm  and  contempt,  that  even  if  he  were  to  build 
houses  for  the  poor,  and  provide  them  with  all  the  necessaries 
and  comforts  of  life,  they  would  not  be  satisfied  unless  they 
had  free  admission  to  his  house  and  the  privilege  of  listening 
to  his  daughters  playing  on  the  piano. 

The  fact  that  leading  Mormons  were  found  to  vindicate  the 
people,  notwithstanding  the  degraded  condition  which  such 
language  implies,  and  openly  to  oppose  Young's  measures  ia 
a  public  meeting,  is  a  hopeful  one,  and  of  deep  significance. 

In   pursuance^  of  the  same  policy  of  segregation  of  the 


298  RECENT  EVENTS. 

'^ 

faithful,  and  preparatory  to  the  accomplishment  of  his  am- 
bitious schemes,  Young  has  established  a  system  of  militia 
training  aud  reviews,  confined  exclusively  to  Mormons.  This 
system  he  sedulously  fosters  and  maintains,  commanding  the 
Mormon  militia  as  Governor  of  the  State  of  Deseret. 

On  tlie  2d  of  November,  1865,  such  a  i-eview  was  held  on 
the  plains  of  Salt  Lake  Valley,  near  the  Jordan  River.  On 
that  occasion  Governor  Durkee,  who  had  lately  arrived  in 
the  Territory  as  the  successor  of  the  lamented  Doty,  visited 
tlie  Mormon  troops  and  marched  in  a  procession  headed  by 
Brigham  Young.  The  Organic  Act  of  Utah  makes  the 
Governor  the  Commander-in-Ciiief  of  the  Militia,  and  it 
would  seem  to  have  been  more  consonant  witli  the  spirit  of 
that  provision,  and  more  conservative  of  the  dignity  of  his 
position,  to  have  headed  the  procession,  or  if  not  permitted  to 
do  so,  to  have  dispersed  it  as  an  illegal  assemblage. 

General  Connor,  who  has  lately  returned  to  Salt  Lake 
from  a  brilliant  Lidian  campaign,  is  the  military  commander 
of  the  Department  of  Utali.  He  does  not  look  with  favor 
upon  the  marshalling  of  military  forces  composed  exclusively 
of  Mormons,  and  considers  such  gatherings  but  little  better 
than  displays  of  rebels  in  arms.  The  progress  of  events 
win  soon  determine  whether  the  military  organization  of 
the  Mormon  militia  is  comlucive  to  loyalty  and  good  order, 
or  to  anarchy  and  rebellion. 

Notwithstanding  these  attempts  to  organize  and  national- 
ize his  followers,  there  are,  within  the  dominions  of  Brigham 
Young,  and  among  the  masses  of  his  adherents,  various  con- 
flicting elements,  furnishing  hopeful  indications  to  the  states- 
man and  the  lover  of  his  country.  It  may  reasonably  be 
expected  that  Young  will  soon  appear  to  the  deluded  people 
in  his  true  character ;  not  as  a  branch  of  the  Divinity,  but 
as  a  selfish,  corrupt,  ambitious,  and  very  dangerous  man. 
•  To  this  end,  every  attempt  to  enlighten  and  disabuse  tliem, 
should  be  encouraged,  and  such  changes  in  tlie  Organic  Act 
should  be  made  as  may  be  necessary  to  protect  the  rights  of 


CONCLUSIOX.  ,     299 

gentiles  resident  in  the  Territory.  Tlie  extraordinary  juris- 
diction now  exercised  by  the  Probate  Courts  should  be  taken 
away  and  limited  to  the  District  Courts.  The  Governor 
should  not  only  be  authorized,  but  required  io  take  the  leader- 
ship and  control  of  the  militia  of  the  Territory.  The  laws  of 
Congi'ess  against  polygamj'^  should  be  rigidly  enforced.  Mor- 
mon postmasters  and  other  IMormon  federal  officers  should 
be  removed.  These  and  kindred  measures  should  be  adopted 
and  enforced,  until  the  authority  of  the  Federal  Government 
shall  be  fully  vindicated  and  acknowledged. 

Among  the  agencies  already  at  work  to  accomplish  this 
desirable  end,  and  to  redeem  Utah  from  her  enthralment, 
may  be  mentioned  the  discovery  of  mines  of  precious  metals, 
and  the  large  influx  of  miners,  —  the  preaching  not  only  of 
a  purer  Mormon  faith,  under  the  auspices  of  Joseph  Smith 
Jr.,  but  the  promulgation  of  the  Gospel  itself,  and  of  the 
principles  of  Christianity  in  their  purity,  by  Rev.  Norman 
McLeod,  a  Congregational  minister  of  great  boldness  and 
talent,  who  is  now  firmly  established  in  the  Territory,  —  the 
extended  and  controlling  influence  of  the  "  Union  Vedette," 
a  daily  and  weekly  paper  published  at  Salt  Lake  City,  and 
edited  with  an  ability  which  is  but  a  synonym  for  immense 
moral,  intellectual,  and  political  power,  —  and  above  all,  the 
military  administration  of  General  Connor,  who,  by  the  dis- 
creet but  firm  hand  with  which  he  has  held  a  check  upon  the 
movements  of  unprincipled  church  leaders,  by  tlie  establish- 
ment and  support  of  the  journal  just  mentioned,  and  by  the 
encouragement  given  to  gentiles  and  disaffected  Mormons, 
has  done  more  to  undermine  and  overthrow  the  whole  system 
of  Mormonism  than  all  other  influences  combined ! 

Much  is  to  be  expected  from  the  discovery  of  valuable 
mines  of  gold,  silver,  and  copper,  in  various  localities  in  Utah. 
Already  mining  camps  have  been  established,  mining  com- 
panies formed,  and  villages  and  settlements  of  miners  are 
springing  up  in  different  directions.  In  Rush  Valley,  west  of 
the  Oquirrh,  or  West  Mountain,  about  forty  miles  southwest 


300  RECENT  EVENTS. 

from  Salt  Lake  City,  is  a  flourialiing  mining  town  called 
Stockton,  which  has  been  built  entirely  since  the  winter  of 
18G3-4.  Tlie  mines  in  this  valley  are  good,  and  are  attract- 
ing much  attention  abroad.  Over  fifty  ledges  have  been  dis- 
covered, which  prospect  well  in  gold  and  silver.  In  Cotton- 
wood Canyon  copper  mines  have  been  discovered  yielding  75 
per  cent,  of  pure  ore.  Extensive  arrangements  have  been 
made  for  bringing  on  machinery,  building  mills,  &c. 

It  has  steadily  been  the  policy  of  Brighara  to  discourage 
prospecting,  and  to  prevent,  if  possible,  the  opening  of  these 
mines  to  the  gentile  public.  It  has  long  been  known  that 
such  mines  existed,  not  only  from  the  whisperings  and  tra- 
ditions of  dissatisfied  saints,  but  by  the  boastings  of  Young 
himself,  whose  vanity  would  not  permit  him  to  be  entirely 
silent  upon  a  subject  so  well  ealculated  to  magnify  his  own 
importance.  On  one  occasion  he  said  to  Bishop  Simpson,  "  I 
can  stand  in  my  door  and  see  plenty  of  gold  and  silver." 

These  hidden  riches,  thank  God,  have  been  brought  to 
light.  Miners  are  flocking  in  by  thousands,  and  their  rights 
will  be  protected,  if  necessary,  by  the  strong  arm  of  a  strong 
government. 

Mormonism  must  soon  give  way  before  the  advancing  tide 
of  American  civilization. 

Brigham  Young,  with  his  band  of  desperadoes,  may  not 
much  longer  despise  and  trample  upon  our  laws,  and  outrage 
the  rights  of  our  people.  If  he  is  to  be  permitted  to  continue 
his  system  of  heathen  polygamy,  he  will  be  obliged  to  leave 
the  Republic  he  has  discarded  and  would  have  overthrown, 
and  fleeing  from  the  scenes  of  his  impieties  and  his  crimes, 
set  up  his  kingdom  in  some  new  refuge,  —  perchance  in  the 
Sandwich  Islands,  which  have  long  been  one  of  the  stakes 
of  Zion. 

The  events  of  the  last  two  years  have  not  been  of  a  char- 
acter to  inspire  confidence  either  in  Young  and  his  associates, 
or  in  the  policy,  or  ratlier  want  of  policy,  of  the  government, 
in  connection  with  the  afiiiirs  of  that  Territory.     The  same 


COXCLUSIOX.  301 

spirit  of  lawlessness  and  violence  wliich  has  marked  the 
entire  history  of  the  Territory  still  pi*evails.  Partially  re- 
pressed for  a  few  years,  and  kept  in  check  by  the  determina- 
tion and  known  bravery  of  General  Connor  and  his  officers, 
it  has  now,  since  their  retirement  from  the  service  and  the 
withdrawal  of  nearly  all  the  military  stationed  at  Camp 
Douglas,  broken  out  more  fiercely  than   ever. 

The  disbanding  of  the  volunteers  was  immediately  followed 
by  denunciations  of  the  gentiles,  and  threats  and  warnings 
of  every  description.  A  letter  containing  the  representation 
of  a  bloody  hand  was  sent  to  the  "  Vedette  "  office. 

Anonymous  communications  were  frequently  received  by 
leading  gentile  citizens.  Fiery  and  vehement  declamation 
was  indulged  in  from  the  rostrum ;  and  the  prophecy  was 
frequently  made  that  in  a  few  months  not  a  gentile  would 
be  left  in  the  Territory.  Yet  that  class  of  proscribed  citi- 
zens kept  on  in  the  even  tenor  of  their  way  ;  the  "  Vedette  " 
appeared  as  usual,  always  bold  and  determined  in  its  opposi- 
tion to  the  wrong  and  injustice  prevailing  around  it.  There 
was  danger  that  the  prophets  w^ould  be  brought  into  disrepute 
and  contempt. 

At  this  juncture,  it  having  been  determined  "  in  council " 
that  a  blow  should  be  struck,  the  community  was  startled  by 
the  announcement  of  one  of  the  most  atrocious  murders  re- 
corded in  history. 

On  the  evening  of  the  second  of  April,  1865,  Squire 
Newton  Brassfield,  a  resident  of  Austin,  Nevada,  temporarily 
residing  in  Salt  Lake,  w-as  shot  down  in  the  streets  while  in 
the  company  of  the  United  States  Marshal,  and  under  his 
protection.  The  particulars,  as  well  as  the  pretext  for  this 
bloody  murder,  are  fully  given  in  the  following  editorials 
taken  from  the  "  Salt  Lake  Vedette,"  of  April  4th,  1865  :  — 

"  AVe  are  called  upon  this  morning  to  chronicle  one  of  the  most 
cold-blooded  and  inhuman  murders  that  has  ever  fallen  under  our 
notice  —  unparalleled  even  in  the  bloody  record  of  Utah's  foulest 
crimes.     The  victim  of  this  last  exhibition  of  the  hellish  doctrine 


302  RECENT   EYEXTS. 

of  '  blood  atonement,'  promulgated  by  these  fiends  of  hell  from 
the  rostrum  of  their  Tabernacle,  is  Squire  Newton  Brassfield, 
late  a  resident  of  Austin,  Nevada,  by  business  a  freighter,  and 
aged  about  thirty  years.  The  circumstances  which  led  to  his 
murder  are  briefly  as  follows :  — 

"  On  the  evening  of  the  27th  ult.  Mr.  Brassfield  was  married 
by  Judge  !McCurdy,  of  the  Supreme  Court,  to  Mary,  second  wife 
of  A.  N.  Hill,  a  Mormon  missionary  now  in  Europe.  A  short 
time  after  the  marriage,  Brassfild  went  with  his  wife  to  her  late 
residence  to  get  her  clotlies  and  household  goods  which  had  been 
packed  up  ready  for  removal.  While  there  he  was  arrested  by 
the  city  police,  charged  iL'ith  resisting  an  officer,  and  lodged  all  night 
in  the  county  jail.  The  next  morning  he  was  taken  before  the 
Probate  Court  to  answer  the  charge,  and  bound  over  in  the  sum 
of  five  hundred  dollars  to  await  the  action  of  the  Grand  Jury. 
The  next  day  two  indictments  were  brought  against  him,  one  on 
the  charge  above  named,  and  the  other  for  larceny,  —  for  being 
present  and  assisting  in  taking  away  his  wife's  goods  and  clothing. 
He  gave  bail  in  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars.  On  INIonday  last 
his  counsel.  Major  C.  H.  Hempstead,  quashed  the  indictment  for 
resisting  an  officer,  and  proceeded  to  trial  on  the  charge  of  larceny. 
The  trial  was  not  concluded  when  the  court  adjourned  on  Mon- 
day, and  was  to  have  been  continued  on  the  following  day. 

"  The  wife  had  two  children,  one  nine  and  the  other  five  years 
of  age.  About  these  children  a  contest  was  evident  —  Mrs.  Brass- 
field  claiming  them,  and  the  friends  of  Hill  being  determined  to 
keep  them  from  her.  The  mother  obtained  a  writ  of  habeas  cor- 
pus from  Judge  Mc Curdy,  and  the  Hill  party  from  the  Probate 
Court,  each  claiming  the  right  to  the  custody  of  the  children. 
The  writ  of  Judge  McCurdy  was  first  executed,  and  a  hearing  held 
by  him  last  Saturday  night.  Major  Hempstead  argued  the  case 
for  the  petitioner,  and  claimed  that  as  Hill  had  a  wife  living  at 
the  time  of  his  alleged  marriage  with  Mrs.  Brassfield,  it  was  illegal 
and  void,  and  that,  as  there  was  no  legal  father,  the  mother  was 
entitled  to  the  custody  of  the  minor  children.  Thus  the  legality 
of  polygamous  marriages  was  made  a  direct  issue  in  the  case. 
Judge  Snow  appeared  against  the  petitioner  and  in  the  capacity 
of  Deputy  Attorney-General  of  the  Territory,  and  desired  further 
time  to  prepare  the  case  of  the  defendant,  and  the  hearing  waa 
continued  until  Monday  evening  at  seven  o'clock. 


CONCLUSION.  303 

"  At  that  liour  the  house  was  crowded,  the  friends  of  both 
parties  being  present  in  large  numbers.  After  a  few  preliminary 
remarks  and  the  filing  of  some  papers  by  JuJge  Snow,  the  hear- 
ing was  again  adjourned  until  Wednesday  morning  at  ten  o'clock. 
The  children  in  the  mean  time  had  been  committed  to  the  custody 
of  the  United  States  Marshal,  Hosmer,  until  further  orders  of 
the  court,  and  on  Monday  the  writ  from  the  Probate  Court  was 
served  on  him,  when  he  appeared  before  Judge  Smith  and  stated 
that  he  held  the  children  by  order  of  Judge  McCurdy,  and  de- 
clined to  produce  them  in  that  court,  when  he  was  threatened 
with  an  attachment  for  contempt,  and  warned  that  unless  he  pro- 
duced the  children  he  ivould  he  imprisoned  in  the  county  jail ! 
The  Probate  Court  of  Salt  Lake,  imprisoning  a  United  States 
Marshal,  for  obeying  an  order  of  the  Supreme  Court !  Our 
readers  can  make  their  own  comments. 

"  Thus  stood  the  several  phases  of  the  case  at  the  adjournment 
of  Judge  McCurdy's  court  on  Monday  evening.  The  court  ad- 
journed at  about  half-past  eight  o'clock,  and  on  his  way  home,  and 
while  in  company  with  the  United  States  Marshal,  Hosmer,  Mr. 
Brassfield  was  shot  and  killed ;  adding  another  to  the  long  list  of 
victims  of  Mormon  '  law  '  and  Mormon  'justice.'  " 

"  STATEMENT     OP  MARSHAL  HOSMER. 

"  About  half-past  eight  o'clock  on  Monday  evening,  the  second 
instant,  I  was  accompanying  Mr.  Brassfield  home  to  the  National 
Hotel  from  Independence  Hall.  As  we  turned  the  corner  by  the 
small  building  west  of  the  hotel,  a  man  who  stood  between  the 
bay-window  and  door  of  that  building  advanced  one  step  from  the 
corner  and  fired  at  Mr.  Brassfield,  the  shot  taking  eifect  in  his 
arm  and  side ;  four  buck-shot  entered  the  arm,  one  striking  the 
elbow  joint  and  breaking  the  arm.  The  fifth  shot,  which  was 
much  larger  than  the  others,  entered  his  right  side.  When  the 
gun  was  fired  Mr.  Brassfield  fell,  and  said,  '  O  my  God !  I  am 
shot  !  '  He  was  carried  into  the  International  Hotel,  where  he 
lingered  in  agony  about  forty-five  minutes  and  then  expired.  The 
assassin,  after  firing,  ran  across  the  street,  and  turning  the  corner 
by  the  theatre,  conlfnued  In  a  northerly  direction.  As  he  passed 
the  St.  Charles  Restaurant,  he  was  fired  at  twice  by  a  policeman. 
I  lost  siiiht  of  him  as  he  turned  the  corner  of  the  theatre." 


304  RECENT  EVENTS. 


"the  feeling  among  the  people. 
"  It  would  be  useless  to  deny  the  fact  that  in  the  opinion  of  the 
gentile  community  of  this  city,  the  killing  of  Mr.  Brassfield  was  a 
deliberately  planned  scheme,  concocted  and  advised  by  men  high 
in  authority  in  the  Mormon  Church.  It  is  a  reminder  of  the  days 
that  were,  and  a  foretaste  of  what  will  be  again  '  when  the  troops 
are  removed.'  The  community  is  struck  dumb  at  the  appalling 
audacity  of  the  affair.  Men  say  but  little,  but  the  lowering  brows 
and  compressed  lips  everywhere  visible,  bespeak  a  rising  storm, 
which,  when  it  bursts,  will  be  very  hard  to  control." 

"  THE    SPIRIT   OF   ASSASSINATION. 

"  From  time  to  time  during  the  past  nineteen  years,  the  people 
have  been  almost  palsied  with  the  announcement  of  dark  and 
fearful  crimes  committed  within  the  limits  of  this  Territory  — 
crimes  of  the  greatest  magnitude  and  of  the  blackest  character 
have  been  perpetrated,  and  in  no  known  instance  have  the  guilty 
parties  been  brought  to  the  tribunal  of  justice. 

"  The  Mountain  Meadow  massacre,  the  Parish,  Potter,  and 
Forbes  murders,  the  assassination  of  Sergeant  Pike  on  the  main 
street  of  Salt  Lake  City,  in  broad  daylight,  were  all  committed 
with  an  impunity  and  immunity  from  punishment  having  no  par- 
allel elsewliere  in  the  country. 

"  Last  Monday  evening  the  community  was  astounded  with  the 
intelligence  of  another  foul  assassination  committed  on  Theatre 
Street,  only  a  few  steps  east  of  Main  Street. 

"  The  man  who  was  assassinated  was  known  throughout  Nevada, 
and  more  particularly  at  Austin  and  Reese  River,  as  one  of  the 
best  and  most  reliable  citizens  of  that  State,  and  was  engaged  in 
the  freighting  business  between  this  place  and  Reese  River.  His 
conduct,  while  here,  was  that  of  a  good,  quiet,  peaceable  citizen, 
violating  no  law  of  the  land,  interfering  in  no  way  with  the 
legitimate  business  of  any  person,  and  honored  and  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him." 

This  high-handed  outrage  was  immediately  followed  by  a 
fulmination  from  Brigham  Young,  warning  the  gentiles  to 
leave  the  Territory,  and  throwing  out  various  dark  hints  of 
the  consequences  in  case  the  warning  should  be  disregarded. 


CONCLUSION.  305 

The  serious  character  of  this  order  was  well  understood  in 
that  community,  and  had  the  effect  to  cause  many  citizens  to 
quietly  take  themselves  out  of  harm's  way. 

For  the  information  of  those  who  may  doubt  whether  any- 
thing criminal  was  intended  by  this  edict,  or  whether  Young 
would  scruple  in  the  use  of  means  in  carrying  out  his  plan 
of  getting  rid  of  the  gentiles,  we  refer  them  to  the  Order  of 
Brigham  issued  in  1858,  for  the  murder  of  eighty  men  by  his 
Danite  followers.     The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Order  :  — 

'•  Salt  Lake  City,  A2}7'il  9,  1858. 
"  Special  Order. 
*'  The  officer  in  command  of  escort  is  hereby  ordered  to  see  that 
every  man  is  well  prepared  with  ammunition  and  have  it  ready  at 
the  time  you  see  those  teamsters  a  hundred  miles  from  the  settle- 
ments.    President  Young  advises  that  they  should  be  all  killed 
to  prevent  them  from  returning  to  Bridger  to  join  our  enemies. 
Every  precaution  should  be  taken  and  see  that  not  one  escapes. 
Secrecy  is  required. 
"  By  order  of  Genl.  Daxl.  H.  Wells. 

James  Ferguson,  Asst.  Adjt.  Genl." 

The  teamsters  alluded  to  were  eighty  in  number,  dis- 
charged from  Johnson's  command  when  at  Fort  Bridger, 
and  were  en  route  to  California.  Maloney,  who  commanded 
the  escort,  is  and  has  been  for  four  years  employed  at  Camp 
Douglas.  He  was  too  humane  to  execute  the  order.  He 
however  preserved  it,  and  it  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Hon. 
John  Titus,  Chief  Justice  of  the  Territory.  The  signature  of 
Ferguson  is  authenticated  under  oath,  by  two  prominent  Mor- 
mons of  Salt  Lake.  The  Mormons  have  on  several  occa- 
sions attempted  to  take  the  life  of  Maloney,  and  only  a  short 
time  since  destroyed  a  house  of  his  near  Camp  Douglas. 

About  this  time  a  new  source  of  difficulty  arose  in  the 
settlement  of  the  public  lands.  The  entire  body  of  land  in 
the  Territory  belongs  to  the  United  States  Government, 
subject  to  the  clainjs  of  Indian  tribes  roving  through  the 
country.  The  land  has  never  been  open  to  market.  But 
very  little  of  it,  indeed,  has  ever  been  surveyed. 
20 


306  RECENT  EVENTS. 

The  Mormons  claim  to  own  the  valley  of  the  Salt  Lake, 
and  all  the  adjacent  country  ;  not  only  that  which  they  have 
reduced  to  possession,  but  the  square  miles  of  adjoining  land 
untouclit'd  by  human  being. 

But  the  gentiles  were  not  disposed  to  concede  the  right- 
fulness of  these  claims.  In  the  summers  of  1865-66,  vari- 
ous settlements  were  made  upon  the  public  lands  in  Utah, 
under  ihe  National  Homestead  Act,  by  anti-Mormon  or 
gentile  citizens. 

The  Mormons  affected  to  consider  this  an  infringement  of 
their  rights,  and  from  denunciations'  and  threats  proceeded  to 
open  violence  to  prevent  these  intrusions. 

Some  account  of  these  outrages  is  given  in  the  following 
extracts  from  a  letter  written  by  Captain  S.  E.  Jocelyn,  and 
published  in  the  "  Chicago  Republican,"  of  January  4,  1867. 

As  the  writer  is  fully  posted  in  relation  to  the  recent  his- 
tory of  tlie  Territory,  I  have  given  other  quotations  also, 
from  the  same  letter :  — 

"  Chicago,  Dec.  28, 1866. 

"  It  has  been  my  fortune  to  reside  in  Utah  Territory  during  the 
last  four  years,  whence  I  have  recently  arrived  iu  your  city. 
While  en  route,  and  since  my  arrival  in  '  America '  —  for  so  the 
gentiles  are  accustomed  to  call  the  Eastern  States  —  I  have  ob- 
served a  great  and  universal  interest  existing  on  all  hands  con- 
cerning affairs  among  the  Mormons. 

"  As  early  as  last  spring  threats  were  made  by  the  Mormon  au- 
thorities toward  certain  parties,  not  Mormons,  then  doing  busi- 
ness of  one  kind  or  another  in  Salt  Lake  City,  looking  to  the 
forcible  entry  of  their  premises  and  the  destruction  of  property 
without  due  process  of  law.  These  threats  were  of  a  general 
character,  and  it  was  believed  that,  under  cover  of  breaking  up 
certain  places  where  disreputable  business  was  carried  on,  it  was 
the  intention  to  destroy  other  establishments  of  a  different  charac- 
ter, but  interfering  with  certain  monopolies  of  the  city  and  church 
patriarchs.  To  prevent  this,  the  local  military  commander,  under 
constructive  orders  from  Gen.  Sherman,  called  upon  Brigham 
Young  to  exact  a  promise  that  no  violence  should  be  done  to  pri- 
vate property  without  due  process  of  law,  which,  after  some  hesi- 


CONCLUSION.  307 

tation,  was  obtained.  Matters  progressed  smoothly  until  the  ad- 
journment of  Congress,  for,  fearing  the  effect  on  that  body  of  any 
violent  measures  inaugurated  against  gentiles,  Brigham  kept  his 
jjromise  strictly.  But  no  sooner  did  the  telegraph  flash  across  the 
continent  the  announcement  of  the  adjournment  of  Congress,  than 
his  pent-up  wrath  broke  forth,  and  he  openly  urged  the  policy  of 
violence  toward  the  gentiles.  With  regard  to  the  public  lands, 
he  said  repeatedly  that  he  owned  land,  and  plenty  of  it,  and  any 
man  who  attempted  to  '  jump '  the  same  should  have  '  a  pre- 
emption title  which  would  last  till  the  resurrection.'  This  was 
called  forth  by  the  fact  that  a  number  of  locations  had  already 
been  made  by  discharged  soldiers  and  others  upon  unoccupied 
land  lying  along  the  west  bank  of  the  Jordan  River,  contiguous  to 
Salt  Lake  City,  and  there  was  considerable  talk  of  many  others 
following  in  the  same  course,  induced  by  the  prospective  coming 
of  the  Pacific  Railroad,  and  a  desire  to  obtain  as  eligible  situations 
for  homes  convenient  thereto  as  possible.  But  the  idea  of  allow- 
ing gentiles  to  settle  In  any  considerable  numbers  in  the  vicinity 
of  Mormon  communities  is  totally  at  variance  with  the  well-un- 
derstood policy  of  the  leaders,  and  must,  therefore,  be  prevented 
by  every  possible  means  —  else,  what  would  become  of  polygamy  ? 
Hence  the  hostility  of  Brigham  Young  to  any  such  scheme  as 
they  contemplated,  for  in  it  he  scented  danger  to  his  favorite  in- 
stitution, and  hence,  too,  his  threat  of  death  to  '  land  jumpers.' 

"  Now  the  fact  is  that  there  has  never  been,  to  my  knowledge, 
one  foot  of  land  '  jumped '  in  Utah ;  in  other  words,  no  loca- 
tions whatever  have  been  made  or  attempted  by  gentiles  except 
upon  totally  unoccupied  lands.  But,  iii  violation  of  the  Territo- 
rial organic  act,  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  Utah  has,  from  time 
to  time,  granted  away  to  Brigham  Young,  and  others,  certain  val- 
uable timber  and  tracts  of  arable  lands  for  a  nominal  considera- 
tion, and  it  is  to  protect  these  from  gentile  Intrusion,  as  well  as 
for  reasons  already  stated,  that  a  reign  of  terror  has  been  inaugu- 
rated. 

"  As  early  as  last  August,  the  writer  of  this  article  called  atten- 
tion, in  the  columns  of  the  '  Salt  Lake  Vedette,'  to  the  threats  being 
made  by  the  Mormon  Head  Centre  to  inflame  the  passions  of  his 
followers,  predicting  the  result  which  has  already  been  reached, 
and  putting  his  language  on  record,  that  it  might  be  known  who 
should  be  held  responsible  when  the  event  transj^Ired. 


o08  RECENT  EVENTS. 

"  On  the  nigbt  of  September  24th  occurred  the  Jordan  outrage, 
in  which  a  number  of  land  preemptors  were  attacked  about  mid- 
night by  a  gang  of  some  forty  or  fifty  ruffians,  disguised  and 
armed,  and  flagrantly  abused,  their  houses  destroyed,  themselves 
thrown  into  the  river,  and  their  lives  only  saved  by  a  promise  to 
leave  the  Territory  within  forty-eight  hours.  One  in  attempting 
to  get  away,  was  fired  upon  and  wounded,  but  effected  his  escape 
—  very  fortunately  for  the  entire  party  beyond  a  doubt,  for  there 
can  be  little  question  that  the  original  purpose  was  to  put  them  all 
out  of  the  way,  which  would  certainly  have  been  accomplished  had 
any  of  the  forty  or  fifty  shots  fired  at  the  fugitive  taken  fatal  effect. 
The  better  nature  of  some  of  the  party  prevailed  over  the  maUg- 
nant  influence  of  the  master  whom  they  served,  and  they  proba- 
bly hoped  to  reach  the  result  he  desired  —  terror  to  gentiles  —  by 
less  sanguinary  means  than  those  he  contemplated.  The  result 
proved  them  wrong,  for  the  parties  warned  did  not  leave  the  Ter- 
ritory, though  any  further  attempts  to  secure  homesteads  were 
abandoned.  Then  followed  the  demolition  of  a  portion  of  Dr. 
Robinson's  premises,  three  of  the  city  police,  including  the  chief, 
being  identified  as  accomplices,  and  held  to  answer  therefor. 
Then  the  abduction  of  Mr.  Weston,  of  the  '  Vedette,'  to  a  remote 
part  of  the  city,  where  he  was  subjected  to  the  most  shameful  in- 
dignities at  the  hands  of  a  half  score  of  miscreants,  some  of  whom, 
at  least,  he  recognized  as  belonging  to  the  city  police, " 

These  outrages  were  closely  followed  by  another  atrocious 
murder,  only  equalled  in  ferocity  and  cold-blooded  cruelty 
by  that  of  Brassfield. 

On  the  2 2d  day  of  October,  1866,  Dr.  J.  K.  Robinson,  a 
prominent  and  influential  citizen  of  Salt  Lake  City,  who 
had  recently  had  some  difficulty  with  the  city  authorities, 
was  shot  in  the  streets,  but  a  few  steps  from  his  own  door. 
He  had  retired  for  the  evening,  when  he  was  called  up  and 
requested  to  go  a  short  distance  to  attend  upon  a  neighbor, 
who,  it  was  alleged,  had  broken  his  leg. 

He  quickly  obeyed  the  call,  followed  his  summoners  a  few 
rods  from  the  house,  when  he  was  brutally  assassinated  by 
those  who  had  him  in  charge.  The  following  allusion  to 
this  murder  is  from  the  letter  of  Captain  Jocelyn  already 
quoted  from  :  — ■ 


CONCLUSION.  309 

"  I  do  not.  hesitate  to  state  my  most  earnest  conviction  that  Brig- 
ham  Young  is  the  author  of  Dr.  Robinson's  assassination,  and  in 
this  I  do  not  go  one  iota  beyond  the  public  opinion  of  all  gentiles 
in  Salt  Lake  City,  and,  I  have  no  doubt,  of  the  Mormons  as  well, 
could  their  secret  thoughts  be  known.  He  signified  his  consent, 
which  was  the  victim's  death  warrant ;  some  of  his  satellites  —  prob- 
ably Daniel  H.  Wells  —  made  the  detail  for  the  execution;  and 
not  the  least  hideous  feature  of  the  whole  affair  is,  that,  in  all 
probability,  the  perpetrators  of  that  most  atrocious  crime  feel  no 
guilt  for  this  deed,  have  no  visitations  of  remorse  or  compunctions 
of  conscience  in  consequence,  but  consider  that  they  have  only 
done  their  duty  and  proved  their  faith  in  thus  obeying  the  behests  of 
their  Prophet.  I  will  trace  the  chain  of  evidence  leading  to  the  fore- 
going conclusion ;  Brigham  Young  is  the  Mormon  Church,  since 
therein  his  word  is  law.  It  is  the  deliberate  policy  of  the  church  to 
isolate  Mormonism  from  the  intrusion  of  persons  averse  to  the  pecu- 
liar faith  it  teaches.  That  such  is  the  burden  of  the  discourses  of  its 
leaders  throughout  the  Territory,  and  has  been  for  years,  will  not 
be  seriously  disputed  by  any  sensible  Mormon.  Hence  their 
strenuous  efforts  to  settle  up  the  valleys,  or  the  more  desirable 
portions,  by  gathering  the  saints  together  from  all  parts  of  the 
world,  and  concentrating  their  force  in  Utah.  In  JSiissouri  they 
controlled  one  county  by  this  means  ;  they  now  control,  and  will, 
if  possible,  perpetuate  their  authority  over  an  entire  Territory 
which  they  hope  may  become  a  State,  under  the  absolute  domin- 
ion of  Brigham  Young.  To  effect  tliis,  gentiles  cannot  be  per- 
mitted to  mingle  with  Mormons  unopposed,  nor  to  settle  in  their 
vicinity,  on  account  of  the  dangerous  influence  they  would  thus 
exert.  The  control  of  the  church  authorities  over  personal  ac- 
tions extends  to  every  possible  circumstance.  When  the  head- 
quarters of  the  District  of  Utah  were  established  in  Salt  Lake 
City  by  order  one  year  ago,  his  authority  was  exercised  to  prevent 
the  lease  of  any  buildings  for  that  or  any  other  public  purpose, 
and  the  person  from  whom  they  were  finally  obtained  was  after- 
ward '  cut  off'  fi-om  the  church  for  disregard  of  '  counsel '  in 
that  particular,  and  has  since  been  subjected  to  all  manner  of 
petty  persecution  in  consequence.  Dr.  Robinson  had  leased  cer- 
tain city  property,  which  he  managed  without  regard  to  the  wishes 
of  the  Mormon  magnates.  Formerly  the  property  of  an  elder  in  the 
church,  it  was  now  the  place  where  the  '  Vedette '  newspaper  found 


310  RECENT  EVENTS. 

refuge,  when  driven  from  every  other  covert.  Moreover,  Dr. 
Robinson  was  foremost  in  encouraging  the  idea  that  gentiles,  as 
well  as  Mormons,  had  rights  in  Utah,  and  among  them  a  right  to 
a  portion  of  the  public  domain,  whereon  to  build  themselves 
homes.  Acting  upon  this  unorthodox  theory,  he,  with  others,  had 
procured  the  survey  of  certain  lands  near  the  city,  including  the 
famous  Warm  Sulphur  Springs,  and  had  taken  all  the  necessary 
steps  to  perfect  a  title,  according  to  act  of  Congress  regulating  the 
location  of  cities  on  the  public  domain. 

"  The  buildings  in  process  of  erection  thereon  were  demolished, 
and  there  the  matter  rested  for  more  than  a  year,  when  it  was 
formally  revived  by  Dr.  Robinson,  who  brought  the  case  before 
the  United  States  Third  District  Court,  praying  to  be  put  in  pos- 
session of  his  property,  from  wliich  he  was  unlawfully  restrained. 

"  About  the  same  time  other  parties  began  locating  on  vacant 
land  near  the  city,  as  already  stated.  No  objection  was  made  by 
any  person,  however,  until  Brigham  Young  began  his  inflamma- 
tory harangues,  giving  the  key-note  of  assassination.  Early  in 
October  the  semi-annual  conference  convened  in  Salt  Lake  City, 
and  it  was  attended  beyond  all  precedent.  To  the  thousands 
there  assembled  he  repeated  all  his  violent  language,  —  and  no 
man  knows  better  how  to  inspire  his  hearers  with  his  own  pur- 
poses, —  concluding  by  taking  a  vote,  in  effect,  whether  the  policy 
thus  strenuously  urged  should  be  adopted  and  at  once  inaugu- 
rated. 

"  What  more  was  necessary  for  him  to  do  ?  Not  to  strike  the 
blow,  svu'ely,  for  there  were  hundreds  ready  to  do  that ;  all  they 
wanted  was  to  be  told  tuho,  where,  and  when.  The  event  was 
predicted  by  the  writer  in  a  communication  to  the  '  New  York 
Tribune,'  dated  ten  days  previous  to  Dr.  Robinson's  assassination. 
None  knew,  indeed,  on  whom  the  blow  would  descend,  but  all  felt 
sure  it  was  impending.  To  my  personal  knowledge  many  of  those 
who  believed  or  knew  themselves  under  ban  took  extraordinary 
precautions  to  meet  the  threatened  danger. 

"  On  Saturday,  October  20th,  Dr.  Robinson,  acting  imder  legal 
advice,  called  on  Daniel  H.  Wells,  Mayor  of  the  city,  '  Lieuten- 
ant-General '  of  the  Utah  militia,  and  only  second  to  Brigham 
Y'^oung  in  the  church,  to  demand  payment  of  the  city  for  dam- 
ages done  to  his  premises  by  police  acting  under  Wells's  orders 
without  due  process  of  law.     Wells  no  sooner  learned  that  he  was 


CONCLUSION.  311 

the  person  contesting  the  Warm  Springs  ease,  than  he  ordered 
him  from  his  house,  with  every  circumstance  of  gross  insult.  On 
the  night  of  Monday  following  Dr.  Robinson  was  murdered.  The 
full  moon  made  the  night  almost  as  light  as  day.  There  were  at 
least  seven  of  the  assassins.  Tliey  did  the  deed,  knowing  that 
within  twenty  steps  a  witness  was  observing  them.  They  did 
not  rifle  the  pockets  of  their  victim.  Tlie  deduction  is  irresistible. 
No  mere  murderers  would  commit  so  heinous  a  crime  luider  such 
circumstances,  unless  certain  of  adequate  backing  and  sure  pro- 
tection. He  had  no  personal  enemies.  Who  desired  his  death  ? 
Who  could  protect  his  murderers  ?  I  leave  the  answer  to  public 
opinion,  which,  I  trust,  may  soon  compel  our  timid  lawgivers  to 
do  their  duty.  For  myself,  I  have  no  doubt  on  the  point.  I  know 
as  well  as  I  ever  hope  to  know  who  caused  the  murder  of  Dr. 
Robinson.  I  feel  and  write  warmly  on  the  subject,  for  the  victim 
was  my  intimate  friend.  Not  three  days  before  his  foul  murder, 
he  expressed  to  me  a  sense  of  the  danger  he  felt  himself  exposed 
to  in  attempting,  single-handed,  to  fight  the  Mormon  authorities 
of  Salt  Lake  City.  The  event  very  soon  proved  how  prophetic 
■were  those  fears.  I  was  by  his  side  only  a  few  minutes  after  he 
was  stricken  down  —  held  his  hand  and  felt  the  last  faint  pulse 
that  flitted  from  his  heart  when  he  died.  Who  could  look  upon  such 
a  sight  —  a  strong  man  basely  stricken  down  in  his  early  prime  by 
assassin  hands,  his  family  crushed  with  the  awful  weight  of  such  a 
sorrow  —  and  not  feel  it  a  duty  to  use  every  means  which  honor 
allows  to  bring  the  perpetrators  to  punishment.  During  my  resi- 
dence in  Utah  I  have  carefully  studied  the  Mormon  system,  and 
confidently  assert  it  to  be  dangerous  to  the  commonweal.  I  have 
traced  the  connection  between  public  utterances  of  the  leaders 
and  crimes  wherewith  they  have  been  charged,  and  entertain  no 
doubt  of  their  guilt  from  evidences  found  in  their  own  record. 

"  Well,  Dr.  Robinson  sleeps  in  the  cemetery  at  Camp  Douglas, 
the  second  victim  of  Mormon  hatred  to  gentiles,  within  the  year, 
whose  ashes  repose  therein.  They  sleep  as  do  the  Parishes,  the 
innocents  slaughtered  at  the  Mountain  Meadows,  and  the  hundreds 
of  other  victims  who  have  perished  to  appease  the  insatiate  demon 
of  blood-atonement  —  the  tutelary  deity  by  whose  fell  assistance 
Brigham  Young  maintains  his  power,  and  hopes  to  accomplish  his 
evil  purposes." 


312  RECENT  EVENTS.     . 

The  following  comments  upon  the  same  affair,  together 
with  the  closing  portion  of  the  eloquent  speech  of  Governor 
Weller  before  the  Coroner's  Jury,  are  taken  from  the  "  San 
Francisco  Bulletin"  of  November  16th,  1866:  — 

"  San  Francisco,  Nov.  IGth. 

"  The  gentiles  of  Salt  Lake  may  find  very  great  attractions 
in  a  business  way  in  that  city,  but  they  do  not  dwell  in  very  se- 
cure habitations.  Now  and  then  one  of  their  number  is  taken  off 
as  stealthily  as  when  a  wolf  pounces  down  upon  the  fold.  Bass- 
field  made  himself  obnoxious  by  a  marriage,  and  his  days  were 
numbered.  The  manner  of  his  taking  off  was  well  known,  but  it 
availed  nothing  to  trace  the  crime  to  its  perpetrators.  Moi-mon 
vengeance  selects  a  shining  mark  even  though  it  lets  its  bolts  fly 
in  the  dark,  and  there  is  always  a  Mormon  moral  to  the  tragedy. 

"  The  recent  assassination  of  Dr.  J.  K.  Robinson,  in  Salt  Lake 
City,  does  not  differ  in  its  diabolical  features  from  others  which 
.  preceded  it.  He  was  a  representative  man,  and  as  such,  the  mur- 
der may  have  peculiar  significance. 

"  Robinson  in  1864  was  Assistant  Surgeon  of  United  States 
Volunteers,  and  soon  after  took  charge  of  the,  hospital  at  Camp 
Douglas,  near  Salt  Lake  City,  and  sometime  after,  being  mustered 
out  of  the  service,  he  settled  down  in  that  city  as  a  regular  prac- 
titioner of  medicine,  which  pursuit  he  followed  with  success,  and 
was  a  leading  man,  at  least  among  the  gentiles.  Indeed,  it  was 
said  that  no  man  stood  higher,  socially  or  morally.  It  seems  that 
Robinson  was  at  the  time  contesting  a  claim  known  as  the  Warm 
Springs,  before  the  United  States  Territoricil  Court,  and  with 
good  prospect  of  ultimate  success.  His  opponents  were,  of  course, 
Mormons,  and  may  have  chosen  a  more  expeditious  way  of  quiet- 
ing title  by  quieting  the  claimant  at  the  same  time.  But  certainly 
a  Mormon  jury  could  have  settled  the  claim  without  blood  ;  only 
there  might  not  have  been  such  an  impressive  and  saintly  moral 
for  the  benefit  of  the  gentiles. 

"  But  there  were  other  reasons  why  Robinson's  permanent  ab- 
sence was  deemed  far  more  desirable  than  his  presence.  He  had 
been  very  active  in  educational  and  religious  enterprises,  not  al- 
together after  the  pattern  prescribed  by  the  saints.  Nearly  two 
years  ago  Rev.  Norman  INIc-Lood,  a  Congregational  minister,  com- 
menced preaching  at  Camp  Douglas,  and  finding  so  much  en- 


CONCLUSION.  313 

couragement  fi-om  Gen.  Connor  and  the  whole  gentile  commu- 
nity, he  established  a  preaching  station  in  the  city,  and  finally 
organized  a  church.  An  intelligent  congregation  was  gathered 
every  Sunday  to  hear  a  gentile  preacher  in  the  city  of  the  saints. 
Money  was  liberally  subscribed,  and  a  church  edifice,  we  believe, 
was  in  process  of  erection.  A  Sunday-school  was  organized,  and 
considerable  assistance  was  sent  from  this  city.  Dr.  Robinson 
was  the  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  and  was  very  ef- 
fective in  all  matters  connected  with  the  new  religious  society. 
Some  time  in  March  last.  Rev.  Mr.  McLeod  was  summoned  to 
Washington  by  a  Congressional  Committee  to  state  the  results  of 
his  observations  concerning  the  attitude  of  the  Mormons  toward 
the  Federal  Government,  and  such  other  knowledge  concerning 
the  workings  of  Mormonism  as  he  possessed.  There  being  no  al- 
ternative, he  obeyed  the  summons.  But  previous  to  his  departure 
Dr.  Robinson,  his  intimate  friend  and  room-mate,  was  united  by 
him  in  mai-riage  with  the  daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  Kay,  a  lady 
identified  also  with  the  new  religious  enterprise.  Six  months  or 
more  afterwards,  and  before  McLeod's  return,  Robinson  was 
called  up  in  the  night  on  pretense  that  he  was  wanted  profession- 
ally, waylaid  and  murdered. 

"  A  fact  of  some  significance  comes  out  at  this  juncture.  Gen. 
Connor,  who  had  taken  a  warm  interest  in  the  religious  society, 
and  was  the  fast  friend  of  Robinson  and  McLeod,  telegraphed  to 
the  latter,  who  is  still  at  the  East,  advising  him  not  to  return  as 
his  life  was  in  danger.  Thus,  the  leading  layman  in  the  society 
was  assassinated,  and  the  pastor  warned  by  his  best  friend  that  it 
is  not  safe  to  return.  It  may  be  said  that  the  gentile  society  had, 
from  the  beginning,  exerted  a  quiet  but  powerful  influence  against 
polygamy,  and  already  much  of  doubt  and  skepticism  on  this  point 
had  begun  to  pervade  the  Mormon  community.  In  New  Zealand 
and  some  other  places,  the  natives  sometimes  roasted  and  ate  a 
missionary.  In  Salt  Lake  they  assassinate  him  and  throw  him  to 
the  dogs.  At  the  coroner's  inquest,  ex-Governor  John  B.  "Weller 
being  present  as  counsel  on  behalf  of  the  friends  of  the  murdered 
man,  addressed  the  jury  and  submitted  the  following  suggestive 
propositions :  — 

"  '  And  upon  this  evidence  I  have  a  few  plain  questions  to  pro- 
pound, which  I  will  leave  you  and  others  to  answer.  I  do  not 
propose  to  discuss  them,  simply  because  I  could  not  do  so  without 


314  RECENT  EVENTS. 

increasing  the  excitement  which  already  exists,  and  producing  an 
exasperated  state  of  feeling,  which  could  not  at  the  present  time 
result  in  any  public  good. 

"1.  If  my  associate,  Judge  Stout,  the  City  Attorney,  had  been 
murdered  under  the  circumstances  Dr.  Robinson  was,  would  the 
police  have  exhibited  a  greater  degree  of  vigilance  and  energy  ? 

"  2.  Would  the  attention  of  the  4000  people  who  assembled  at 
the  '  Tabernacle  '  (where  secular  affairs  are  often  discussed)  on 
the  succeeding  Sabbath  have  been  called  to  the  crime  and  ex- 
horted to  use  every  effort  to  ferret  out  the  assassins  ? 

"  3.  Could  any  prominent  Mormon  be  murdered  under  the 
same  circumstances  and  no  clew  whatever  found  to  the  murderer  ? 

"4.  Would  any  portion  of  the  five  hundred  special  police  have 
been  called  into  requisition  or  ordered  on  duty  ? 

"  5.  Would  any  of  the  numerous  witnesses  who  saw  the  assas- 
sins fleeing  from  their  bloody  work,  have  been  able  to  recognize 
and  name  them  ? 

"  6.  Have  we  not  utterlj-  failed  to  prove,  after  full  investigation, 
that  Dr.  Robinson  had  a  personal  enemy  in  the  world,  and  have 
we  not  proved  that  he  had  had  difficulties  with  none  except  the 
city  authorities  ? 

"  7.  Is  there  any  evidence  that  he  had  done  anything  to  make 
personal  enemies,  unless  it  was  having  the  Chief  of  Police  and 
two  others  bound  over  to  answer  a  charge  of  riot  ? 

"  8.  Would  he  have  been  murdered  if  he  had  not  by  his  land 
claim  raised  a  question  as  to  the  validity  of  the  city  charter  ? 

"  9.  Would  the  ten-pin  alley  have  been  destroyed  if  it  had  not 
been  his  property,  and  that  he  had  a  suit  pending  asjainst  the 
city? 

"  10.  Would  the  Mayor  of  the  city  have  ordered  him  out  of  his 
house  two  days  before  he  Avas  murdered,  if  he  had  not  under- 
stood that  he  claimed  damages  from  the  city  for  the  wanton  de- 
struction of  his  property  ? 

"  11.  Is  it  not  remarkable  that  a  gang  of  men  could  go  to  a 
bowling  alley,  nearly  surrounded  by  houses,  within  sixtj'  steps  of 
the  most  public  street  in  the  city,  between  the  hours  of  eleven  and 
twelve  o'clock  at  night,  demolish  the  windows  and  break  up  with 
axes  and  sledges  the  alley,  and  no  witnesses  found  to  identify  the 
men  or  who  knew  anything  whatever  about  the  perpetrators  of  the 
act? 


CONCLUSION.  315 

"  12.  Are  not  the  jury  satisfied  that  some  witnesses  have  with- 
held evidence  calculated  to  ftisten  guilt  upon  certain  parties,  be- 
cause they  feared  personal  violence  ? 

"  13.  Is  there  not  an  organized  influence  here  which  prevents 
the  detection  and  punishment  of  men  who  commit  acts  of  vio- 
lence upon  the  persons  or  property  of  gentiles? 

"  14.  If  a  Mormon  of  good  standing  had  been  murdered, 
would  the  Mayor,  to  whom  the  Chief  of  Police  reports,  have 
been  informed  of  the  act  before  ten  o'clock  the  next  day  ? 

"  15.  Would  the  Chief  of  Police  have  gone  to  bed  as  soon  as 
he  heard  of  the  crime,  and  waited  three  days  before  he  visited 
the  scene  of  the  murder  ? 

"  16.  Was  the  murder  committed  for  the  purpose  of  striking 
terror  into  the  gentiles  and  preventing  them  from  settling  in 
this  Territory  ? 

"  1 7.  Is  it  the  settled  policy  of  the  authorities  here  to  prevent 
citizens  of  the  United  States,  not  Mormons,  from  asserting  their 
claims  to  a  portion  of  the  public  domain  in  the  regularly  organ- 
ized judicial  tribunals  of  the  country  ? 

"18.  Are  all  legal  questions  which  may  arise  in  this  city  be- 
tween Mormons  and  gentiles  to  be  settled  by  brute  force  ? 

"  19.     Do   the  public  teachings   of  the  Tabernacle  lead   the 
people  to  respect  and  obey  the  laws  of  the  country,  or  do  they  » 
lead  to  violence  and  bloodshed  ? ' 

"  He  then  referred  to  the  practices  and  teachings  of  the  Mor- 
mons and  the  natural  results  that  flowed  from  them  :  — 

"  '  Whilst  following  the  practices  of  some  of  the  patriarchs  of 
old  they  have  also  adopted  the  creed,  "  An  eye  for  an  eye,  and  a 
tooth  for  a  tooth."  What  has  been  the  result  of  these  teachings 
upon  society  here  ?  There  are  a  number  of  respectable  men  in 
this  city,  some  of  whom  have  families,  who  dare  not  go  upon  your 
streets  at  night !  Nor  are  they  men  who  are  afraid  of  shadows. 
They  have  shown  their  courage  upon  the  field  of  battle  in  defence 
of  the  honor  of  the  country,  and  would  not  shrink  from  meeting 
an)'  of  them  single-handed  in  the  light  of  day.  But  they  do  not 
choose  to  meet  an  organized  band  of  assassins  at  midnight.  They 
dare  not  go  to  your  theatre  or  other  public  places  of  amusement. 
Is  it  not  hard  that  here,  in  an  American  Territory,  supposed  to 
be  under  the  protection  of  our  national  flag,  citizens  who  have 
perilled  their  lives  to  sustain  the  supremacy  of  our  laws  and  the 


316  RECENT  EVENTS. 

integrity  of  the  government,  are  compelled  to  remain  in  tbeir 
houses  at  night  to  escape  the  hands  of  murderers  ?  men  who  have 
violated  no  law,  trespassed  upon  the  right  of  no  one,  but  have 
simply  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the  dominant  party  ?  Can 
this  state  of  things  be  tolerated  on  American  soil  ?  A  govern- 
ment which  habitually  fails  to  give  protection  to  its  people  must 
soon  cease  to  command  their  confidence  or  respect.  But  I  do  not 
choose  to  pursue  this  subject  further. 

"  In  this  connection,  however,  I  feel  called  upon  to  notice  the 
extraordinary  efforts  which  liave  been  made  and  are  still  being 
made  at  the  Tabernacle,  as  well  as  by  the  press,  to  destroy  the 
confidence  of  the  people  in  the  courts  established  by  the  Federal 
Government  in  this  Territory.  Judges  selected  by  the  govern- 
ment, because  of  their  legal  attainments  and  sterling  integrity, 
have  been  sent  out  here  to  administer  the  laws  and  preserve  the 
peace  and  order  of  society.  If,  in  the  faithful  discharge  of  their 
duties  under  the  oath  they  have  taken,  they  make  a  decision  in 
conflict  with  the  interests  or  the  opinions  of  the  dominant  party, 
they  are  bitterly  denounced  and  every  effort  made  to  impair  their 
power  and  lessen  their  influence.  To  effect  this,  slander  and  rid- 
icule are  generally  employed.  If  a  Federal  Judge  will  decide 
every  question  which  arises  between  a  Mormon  and  gentile  in 
''favor  of  the  former,  he  can  have  an  easy  and  quiet  time.  He 
can  have  as  much  fulsome  praise  as  he  deserves.  But  if  he  de- 
cides in  favor  of  the  latter,  "  uneasy  lies  the  head  that  wears  a 
crown.' " 

The  murder  of  Dr.  Robinson,  following  so  closely  upon  that 
of  Brassfield,  and  the  outrages  upon  Williamson  and  his 
companion?,  quite  unsettled  the  nerves  of  those  gentiles  who 
had  had  the  hardihood  to  remain,  and  they  now  fled  in  terror 
from  before  the  face  of  the  infuriated  fanatics,  to  whose  ten- 
der mercies  they  had  been  turned  over  by  that  government 
which  should  have  afforded  them  the  fullest  protection. 

The  garrison  stationed  at  Camp  Douglas,  instead  of  being 
strengthened  as  it  should  have  been,  had  been  disbanded  and 
withdrawn,  till  scarcely  a  corporal's  guard  remained ;  not 
enough  to  inspire  the  least  respect  for  the  government  or  its 
representatives.     General  Coimor,  whose  name  had  been  a 


CONCLUSION.  817 

terror  to  tlie  offender  for  tliree  years,  now  found  liimself  an 
outcast  and  a  refugee,  in  the  land  which  had  so  lately  been 
under  his  control.  Finding  his  life  constantly  in  danger  in 
Salt  Lake  City,  he  removed  with  his  family,  a  few  months 
after  the  assassination  of  Robinson,  to  Stockton,  in  Rush 
Valley,  forty  miles  west  of  Salt  Lake,  where  he  now  resides. 
He  is  engaged  in  mining  operations,  and  having  ponsiderable 
capital  invested  in  developing  the  silver  mines  in  that  locality, 
cannot  well  leave  without  much  financial  sacrifice.  His  life 
is  in  constant  danger,  as  well  as  that  of  every  anti-Mormon 
resident  of  the  Territory. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  of  General  Connor, 
dated  Salt  Lake,  December  26,  1866,  written  just  before  his 
removal  to  Stockton,  will  give  some  idea  of  the  condition 
of  the  Territory  at  that  time  :  — 

"  Matters  are  getting  -worse  here.  You  will  see  by  the  '  Vedette,* 
that  the  merchants  have  addressed  a  card  to  Brigham  Young,  in 
reference  to  his  action  in  not  permitting  the  people  to  trade  with 
gentile  merchants.  Several  gentiles  established  themselves  in  busi- 
ness in  the  outer  settlements.  Some  of  them  have  been  ordered  to 
close  their  stores,  and  are  doing  so,  and  are  glad  to  get  away  with 
their  lives. 

"  Of  the  hundreds  who  came  here  to  spend  the  winter,  all  or 
nearly  all  have  left,  and  many  of  the  old  gentile  inhabitants  are 
leaving,  or  preparing  to  do  so  in  the  spi-ing,  if  nothing  is  done  for 
us  by  Congress  or  the  Administration." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  McLeod  who,  previous  to  the  murder  of 
Robinson,  had  made  a  visit  to  the  States,  was  cautioned  by 
bis  friends,  by  telegraph,  not  to  return,  as  his  life  was  in 
danger.-*^ 

Many  fled  the  Territory.     But  a  small  number  remained. 

1  Rev.  William  Roberts,  also  one  of  the  ablest  ministers  on  the  Pacific 
coast,  was  deputed,  at  the  last  annual  Methodist  Conference  of  Oregon,  to 
act  as  a  missionary  at  Salt  Lake.  He  proceeded  to  execute  the  mission,  but 
after  a  short  stay,  returned  to  his  former  charge  in  Idaho,  therq  to  remain 
till  such  time  as  American  citizens  in  Utah  should  be  protected  in  their 
lives  and  property. 


318  EECENT  EVENTS. 

And  from  tliat  Spartan  band  tlie  cry  now  comes  up  for  aid 
and  protection. 

Will  that  cry  be  heeded  by  the  government  of  their 
country  ?  Or  will  that  same  masterly  inactivity  which  has 
hitherto  characterized  the  course  of  the  Federal  Government 
on  this  subject,  still  prevail? 

This  is  a  question  which  now  demands  the  serious  atten- 
tion of  Congress  and  of  the  country. 

If  the  Mormons  are  to  remain  in  the  country,  it  would 
seem  to  be  time  that  some  system  were  adopted  to  enforce 
the  execution  of  the  laws  among  them.  I  am  aware  that  the 
subject  is  one  of  some  difficulty,  but  one  would  suppose  that 
among  all  those  who  have  been  grappling  with  the  great  ques- 
tions of  Southern  reconstruction,  enough  statesmanship  might 
be  found  to  devise  some  efficient  mode  of  protecting  life  and 
property  in  Utah. 

Let  us  at  least  hope  the  attempt  will  be  made. 


THE  END. 


